UC-NRLF 


AS  A 
SOCIAL    FORCE 


in 


A.O.  FONKALSRUD 


Scandinavians  as  a  Social 
Force  in  America 


Submitted  in  partial  fulfillment  of  the  requirements 

for  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Philosophy 

at  New  York  University 


A.     O.     FONKALSRUD 
1913 


HEIBERG     PRINTERY 
BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 


PREFACE. 

The  writer  of  this  thesis  was  born  in  Minnesota  in  a  German- 
Scandinavian  community  and  is  of  Norwegian  parentage.  The  subject 
matter  of  the  thesis  is  largely  the  result  of  observation  and  experience 
received  during  boyhood  and  later  during  eleven  years  of  service  as  a 
clergyman  in  an  American-Scandinavian  community.  A  liberal  use  is 
made  of  quotations  from  various  authors  to  support  the  arguments 
made  by  the  writer. 


CHAPTER    I. 

INTRODUCTION  AND  DEFINITION  OF  TERMS. 
Definition  of  terms. 

(a)  Social  force.     A  social  force  is  any  agent  influencing  man  to  action. 

1.  Direct  or  indirect.     Man  on  man,  nature  on  man. 

2.  Physical  or  spiritual. 

(b)  The     Scandinavians.       Peoples     occupying     the     countries     of     Norway, 

Denmark  and   Sweden. 

CHAPTER  II. 

THE  RACIAL  CHARACTERISTICS  AND  THE  HISTORICAL   SETTING  OF  THE 
SCANDINAVIANS. 

A.  Physical  characteristics. 
I.      Origin  of  type. 

(a)  Birth  of  traits  in  early  movement  of  races. 

(b)  Evolution  of  definite  physical  type. 

1.  Head. 

2.  Hair. 

3.  Eyes. 

4.  Stature. 

B.  Physical  characteristics. 

I.     Evolution  of  definite  psychic  type. 

1.  In  early  games,  customs,  practices. 

2.  In  poetry  and  romance. 
II.     Psychic  type. 

(a)  Description. 

1.  Tragic  conception  of  life.   ^ 

2.  Intensely  independent.        ^ 

(b)  Psychic  type  interpreted  in  light  of  historic  events. 

1.  Introduction  of  Christianity. 

2.  Trial  by  jury. 

3.  Reformation. 

4.  Suffrage. 

III.     Most  pronounced  psychic  trait. 

(a)  Vandrelyst.     Cause   for  vandrelyst. 

(b)  Description   of   marauding   trips. 

(c)  Development  of  trait  in  modern  history. 


296248 


SCANDINAVIANS   AS  A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

C.  Historical  setting  of  the  Scandinavians. 

I.      Brief  summary  of  Scandinavian  History. 

(a)  Early  period.     Norway,  Denmark  and  Sweden — 1300  A.  D. 

(b)  Middle  period.     Norway,  Denmark  and  Sweden— 1300-1700  A.  D. 

(c)  Later  period.     Norway,  Denmark  and  Sweden — 1700  A.  D. 

II.     Relationship    of    Scandinavian   to   Universal   history.      Distinctive    points 
of  contact  with  other  nations. 

(a)  Russia. 

(b)  England. 

(c)  France. 

(d)  Byzantium. 

(e)  Mediterranean  countries. 

(f)  Greenland. 

(g)  Iceland, 
(h)  America. 

1.  Reformation  period. 

2.  Napoleonic  period. 

D.  Conclusion. 

I.     Scandinavian  old-world  contribution. 
II.      Scandinavian  new-world  contribution. 

CHAPTER  III. 

SCANDINAVIAN  IMMIGRATION. 
I.     Reasons  for  leaving  Scandinavian  countries. 
II.     Time. 

III.  Number. 

IV.  Location. 

Above  chapter  a  historical  sketch  of  the  Scandinavian  immigration. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

SCANDINAVIANS  IN  AMERICA. 
(Potential  or  Latent  Force.) 
A.    Influence. 

(a)  Depends  on  their  Americanization;  i.  e.,  mixing,  hence 

(b)  Extent  of  Scandinavian  custom,   language  and  religion. 

(c)  Means  taken  to  keep  Scandinavians  true  to  their  customs,  language 

and  religion. 

1.  Parochial  schools. 

2.  National  societies. 

3.  Scandinavian  press. 

4.  Scandinavian  in  public  schools  and  universities. 


IN  AMERICA  j 

B.  Means  of  Americanization. 
I.      Direct  agencies. 

(a)  Public  school. 

(b)  Business. 

(c)  Political   gatherings. 

(d)  American  press. 

(e)  Co-laborers  with  Americans.     (Contact.) 
II.     Indirect  agencies. 

(a)  Prestige  of  English  in  social,  literary  and  political  life. 

(b)  Ambition  to  conform  to  higher  standard  of  dominant  race. 

C.  Desirability  or  Undesirability  of  Americanization. 

I.      Should  Americanize  in  a  natural  but  not  forced  manner. 
II.     Natural  Americanization. 

(a)  Stage  one :  period   following  their  immediate   landing,   when   results 

of  foreign  training  are  manifest  in  thoughts,  words  and  deeds. 

(b)  Stage   two:    Scandinavian- American   may   be    foreign    mentioned    in 

Chapter  V. 

(c)  Third  and  final  stage  in  Americanizing: 

1.  American  by  birth. 

2.  American  by  environment. 

CHAPTER  V. 

SCANDINAVIAN  INFLUENCE  IN  AMERICA. 
(Considered  as  an  economic  force.) 

A.  Scandinavian  influence  in  the  material  development  of  the  country. 

(a)  Importance  of  agriculture  to  America. 

(b)  Aptitude  for  agriculture. 

(c)  Their  selection  of  our  best  agricultural  land. 

(d)  Leading  traits  as  farmers. 

(e)  Scandinavians  establish  permanent  homes,  which  are  to-day  among  the 

best. 

B.  Scandinavians'  influence  in  technical  branches  and  other  manufactures. 

(a)  Technical  schools  of  Scandinavian  countries  the  cause  of  their  influence. 

(b)  Influence  especially  noted  in  civil  engineering. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

POLITICAL  AND  SOCIAL  INFLUENCE  OF  SCANDINAVIANS  ON   AMERICANS  AND  OF 

AMERICANS  ON  SCANDINAVIANS. 
A.     Poltical  influence. 

1.  Love  of  liberty. 

2.  Their  law-abiding  nature. 

3.  Independent  in  politics:     Farmers'  Alliance,  People's  Party  and  the 


present     Progressive     Party    largely     originated     and     had     their 
stronghold  in   Scandinavian  territory. 

4.  Same  characteristics  seen  in  their  "Vandrelyst"  and  Viking  nature. 

5.  Scandinavians  responded  readily  and  ably  to  the  call  of  our  country 

at  the  time  of  the   Civil  War. 

6.  Universally  defenders  of  law,  government,  order  and  peace. 
B.     Social  and  Cultural  Influence. 

(b)  In  journalism. 

(c)  Religious  influence. 

(d)  The  social  life  of  Scandinavians. 

G.     Scandinavians  and  Education  in  America. 

(a)  Nature  of  their  schools.     (Religious.) 

(b)  Classification. 

D.  Nature    and    number    of    charitable    institutions    owned    and    controlled    by 

Scandinavians. 

E.  Influence  of  America  on  Scandinavians. 

(a)  Scandinavians  lose  their  national  traits,  thus 

(b)  They  are  merged  with  the  other  race,  and 

(c)  Thus  the  American  Nation  is  made. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

PROBABLE  INFLUENCE  ON  THE  FUTURE  MAKING  OF  THE  AMERICAN  RACE  THROUGH 
IMMIGRANTS  IN  GENERAL  AND  THROUGH  SCANDINAVIANS  IN  PARTICULAR. 

A.  Influence  of  general  immigration. 

(a)  Depends  on  character  of  immigrants. 

(b)  Depend  on  the  number  of  immigrants. 

(c)  Should  aim   to  reduce  the  number  and  raise   the   standard   for  admis 

sion  of  immigrants. 

B.  Scandinavian  Influence. 

I.      Probable  influence  will  be  less  because: 

(a)  American  conditions  more  firmly  established. 

(b)  American  and  Scandinavian  conditions  more  alike  than   formerly. 

(c)  Immigration  has  decreased  in   recent  years. 

(Above  considers  the  influence  of  the  recently  arrived  immigrants.) 

II.      Probable  influence   of   Scandinavian- Americans  greater  in   future   th^n   in 

past,   because: 
(a)   They  have  been  educated  in  American   Schools,   and  are  thus  better 

qualified  for  influential  activities. 
(Above  considers  the  influence  of  the  Americanized  immigrants.) 


CHAPTER  I. 

SCANDINAVIANS  AS  A  SOCIAL  FORCE  IN  AMERICA. 
Introduction  and  Definition  of  Terms. 

The  terms  to  be  defined  are  "A  Social  Force"  and  "Scandinavians," 
in  order  that  the  purpose  of  the  thesis  may  be  better  understood,  an 
introductory  discussion  is  given  of  "Society." 

There  are  many  attempts  at  denning  "Society."  What  are  the 
constituent  elements  of  society?  "What  is  society?"  and  many  similar 
questions  have  been  much  discussed  and  variously  answered.  Some 
sociologists  hold  that  the  individual  is  the  unit  of  society.  Others 
that  it  is  the  social  actions  of  men  that  constitutes  society.  In  the 
first  instance  we  would  have  men  en  masse,  in  the  second  they  would 
be  associated,  influencing  and  being  influenced.  As  the  subject  does 
not  call  for  an  extended  discussion  of  the  writer  on  what  society  is,  a 
few  of  the  sociologists  will  be  quoted  on  the  subject. 

Stuckenberg,  "The  Science  of  Human  Society,"  volume  I,  p.  78, 
"The  words  used  for  'society'  in  the  languages  derived  from  the  Latin 
have  the  same  origin  and  fundamental  idea  as  the  English  word.  The 
German  Gesellschaft  is  from  gesellen,  to  associate,  to  be  companions  to 
one  another — essentially  the  same  sense  as  the  Latin.  The  fundamental 
sense  in  the  etymology  of  the  various  words  is,  therefore,  that  some 
thing  is  held  in  common  or  shared  by  a  number  of  individuals. 
Society,  then,  is  an  association,  a  compound,  a  connection,  formed 
through  persons,  by  means  of  which  a  new  combination  is  created  or  a 
relation  instituted  which  did  not  exist  before  the  individuals  were 
associated."  Same  author,  p.  79:  "In  thus  seeking  to  make  society 
interpret  its  meaning  to  us,  we  are  impressed  with  the  manifold 
diversity  in  human  association.  Eliminating  all  wherein  associations 
differ,  the  residue  is  their  common  identity  or  that  essential  element 
which  constitutes  society  itself.  This  method  proves  that  individuals 

3 


4  ^  .    .,  ^ SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

are  indispensable.  But  the  kind  of  individuals,  provided  they  are  of 
a  suitable  age,  is  a  matter  of  indifference,  whether  young  or  old,  white 
or  black,  intelligent  or  ignorant,  religious  or  atheistic.  Equally  indiffer 
ent  is  the  purpose  of  association.  This,  then,  is  the  fundamental  idea 
of  society :  the  fact  of  association,  or  being  associated  regardless  of 
time,  place,  circumstances,  aim  and  the  character  of  the  associated." 

P.  80.  (Stuckenberg)  "Private  action  becomes  social  so  soon  as  it 
in  any  way  exerts  an  influence  on  others  than  the  actor.  Take  any  body 
of  men  recognized  as  a  society;  it  will  be  found  that  they  act  and  react 
on  one  another,  they  give  and  take.  This  mental  interaction  is  the  new 
factor  which  does  not  exist  when  men  are  isolated.  Society,  then,  is 
created  whenever  men  pass  from  isolation  to  a  relation  of  co-operation 
or  antagonism,  of  mutuality  and  reciprocity;  they  affect  each  other  as 
stimuli."  P.  81.  "Human  beings  do  not  form  society  because  they 
live  in  the  same  neighborhood,  nor  because  their  bodies  come  in  con 
tact.  No  bond  exists  in  the  outer  world  which  can  associate  them.  If 
men  were  tied  together  in  bundles,  we  should  have  bundles  of  men, 
but  no  societies.  Society  can  be  constituted  only  by  bringing  the  inner 
world  of  persons  into  relation  with  one  another.  It  can  be  the  result 
only  of  the  reciprocal  communication  of  these  inner  worlds;  for  pri 
marily  human  beings  confront  each  other  as  bodies  whose  manifestations 
must  be  interpreted  in  order  to  learn  the  contents  of  the  inner  worlds." 
R.  Von  Schubert-Soldern,  Zeitschrift  fur  die  Gessammte  Staats  Wissen- 
schaft,  1899,  p.  57. 

P.  84.  (Stuckenberg)  "Society  is  not  the  product  of  the  being,  but 
of  the  action  of  men.  Its  genesis  depends  solely  on  what  men  do  to  one 
another  and  together.  .  .  .  Society  now  looms  up  before  us  as 
that  great  mental  life  which  men  constitute  through  their  influence  on 
each  other, — that  world  of  vast  extant  and  incalculable  value  in  which 
sociology  dwells." 

Society  is  so  commonly  regarded  as  composed  of  individuals  that 
no  proof  is  needed  for  the  statement.  When  this  view  is  attacked 
people  are  astonished;  no  other  view  is  deemed  possible.  It  is  the 
conception  which  underlies  the  common  statement  that  society  is  an 
aggregation  or  a  collection  of  individuals.  A  few  quotations  are  given 
of  the  current  view. 


IN  AMERICA  5 

In  "Society  Science  and  Social  Schemes,"  MacClelland  speaks,  p.  4, 
of  "the  individuals  who  compose  society;"  and  p.  24  he  calls  indi 
viduals  the  social  units  or  the  atoms  of  society." 

Giddings,  "Elements  of  Sociology,"  p.  6:  "A  society  is  a  number 
of  like-minded  individuals — socii — who  know  and  enjoy  their  like- 
mindedness,  and  are  therefore  able  to  work  together  for  common  ends." 
This  evidently  applies  only  to  formal  organizations.  Page  11:  "The 
unit  of  investigation,  then,  in  sociology  is  the  socius — that  is  to  say,  the 
individual  who  is  not  only  an  animal  and  a  conscious  mind,  but  also  a 
companion,  a  learner,  a  teacher,  and  a  co-worker.  Sociology  studies 
the  nature  of  the  socius,  his  habits  and  his  activities."  In  the  chapter 
on  "The  Province  of  Sociology,"  p.  5,  he  speaks  of  individual  personali 
ties  as  the  units  and  elements  of  association. 

P.  93  (Stuckenberg).  Carroll  D.  Wright,  "Practical  Sociology," 
p.  3,  also  regards  individuals  as  "the  units  which  make  up  the  integral 
members  of  society."  Page  66:  "Every  organization  in  society  consists 
of  individual  units,  and  these  must  be  brought  into  some  relationship 
with  each  other  before  the  lowest  form  of  the  social  unit  can  be 
created."  It  is  significant  that  here  society  is  first  made  to  consist 
of  "individual  units,"  and  then  of  "some  relationship"  of  these  units 
with  one  another." 

Same  author,  p.  93 :  "A  picture  can  be  taken  of  men  grouped 
or  aggregated,  but  not  of  society.  If  the  impression  is  to  be  made 
that  the  group  is  not  a  mere  aggregation,  but  a  society,  it  will  have 
to  be  represented  by  the  attitude  or  action  of  the  individuals.  But  the 
attitude  or  action  introduced  as  a  representative  of  society  is  very 
different  from  the  society  itself.  Individuals  can  be  photographed,  but 
not  the  society  formed  by  them." 

Mr.  Spencer,  in  the  first  chapter  of  his  "Inductions  of  Sociology." 
discusses,  "What  is  Society?"  "A  society  is  but  a  collective  name  of 
a  number  of  individuals." 

On  p.  99  Stuckenberg  says:  "Simmel  makes  individuals  the  con 
stituent  elements  of  society,  but  at  the  same  time  makes  society  consist 
of  the  interaction  of  individuals  on  each  other."  He  says :  "Society 
is  found  wherever  several  individuals  sustain  to  each  other  a  relation 
of  interaction  (Wechselwirkung).  For  if  society  is  to  be  a  peculiar 


6  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

object,  having  its  own  science,  it  can  be  only  because  a  new  unity 
arises  from  the  sum  of  the  individuals  which  constitute  society;  other 
wise  all  the  problems  of  the  social  science  would  only  be  problems  of 
individual  psychology.  A  unity  composed  of  several  elements  is,  how 
ever,  nothing  but  an  interaction  of  these  elements  exercising  the  forces 
of  cohesion,  of  attraction,  perhaps,  also,  of  a  certain  repulsion." 

The  last  definition  of  society  is  the  one  accepted  by  the  writer  as 
the  best  for  the  subject  considered.  In  our  nation  we  have  the  inter 
action  of  individuals  and  races.  The  reciprocal  influence  presupposes 
that  each  individual  in  his  relation  to  fellow  men  must  be  a  social 
force;  hence  the  definition  of  our  second  term,  "A  social  force." 

"A  man's  force  is  his  personal  wealth."  Like  other  forms  of 
wealth,  it  may  be  hoarded,  it  may  be  used  for  self,  or  for  others.  A 
social  force  would  be  what  he  gives  up  of  himself  for  society.  Stuck- 
enberg,  p.  98:  "Let  us  call  that  part  of  himself  which  a  person  gives 
to  society  his  social  force."  "Force"  is  an  abstract  term  but  indis 
pensable  for  clearness.  "Energy"  or  power  can  be  substituted,  but 
whatever  word  is  used  it  always  means  that  part  of  the  individual 
which  enters  society,  which  exerts  a  psychical  influence  on  others. 
Whatever  one  does  to  affect  others,  that  is  his  contribution  to  society 
and  therefore  his  social  force.  In  society  we  have  nothing  but  the 
social  forces  of  individuals  in  interaction  with  each  other." 

An  exact  interpretation  of  social  force  is  impossible,  as  we  do  not 
fully  know  what  individuals  and  societies  are  to,  and  receive  from,  one 
another.  The  important  factor  to  be  noted  in  our  study  is  not  so  much 
the  socii  but  their  social  forces,  their  influence  and  their  capability  of 
being  influenced.  The  individual  constitutes  a  social  force  and  society 
is  itself  a  force. 

"The  individual  is  the  particularizing  social  force.  Society  is  the 
generalizing  social  force." — J.  M.  Baldwin. 

Man  considered  from  the  beginning,  through  his  wonderful  achieve 
ments  up  to  the  present  time  reveals  a  mighty  influence.  He  is  subject 
to  a  diversity  of  energies  as  these  may  be  found  in  man  or  nature.  As 
every  individual  is  unique,  so  must  his  social  force  be  unique.  In 
order  to  understand  the  individual  in  his  social  relation,  we  must 
differentiate  his  force  and  study  it  with  its  correlated  forces.  Again, 


IN  AMERICA  7 

since  an  individual  never  repeats  or  duplicates  a  thought  or  an  act 
we  confront  the  enormity  of  an  individual  as  a  social  force;  though 
not  the  same,  they  are  similar;  vary  in  quality  and  degree  at  the 
various  stages  of  civilization  and  natural  surroundings.  In  every  stage 
there  is  a  general  trend,  a  main  thought  generally  directed  by  the 
"Zeit  geist,"  which  is  clearly  recognized. 

Stuckenberg,  p.  195 :  "While  no  social  force  can  be  foreign  to 
man,  it  is  not  implied  that  every  social  force  is  seen  in  each  society  or 
in  an  equal  degree  in  every  stage  of  culture.  Man  himself  may  have 
to  undergo  a  process  of  humanizing.  Whatever  external  stimuli  are 
offered,  he  can  respond  to  them  only  if  there  is  an  inner  adaptation 
to  the  stimuli.  Hence  we  find  physical  and  geographical  conditions, 
race,  heredity,  and  the  social  environment  powerful  factors  in  deter 
mining  the  character  of  the  forces.  Culture  in  particular  is  a  prominent 
feature.  It  cannot  be  successfully  imitated.  Certain  forces  belong  to 
man  as  man,  and  they  exist,  though  subject  to  modifications,  in  every 
stage  of  development.  They  appear  wherever  man  enters  into  social 
relations.  Other  forces  no  less  truly  a  product  of  man's  nature,  require 
for  their  manifestations  in  social  life  some  degree  of  culture.  Until 
this  is  reached  they  are  in  an  embryonic  form,  existing  potentially 
rather  than  actually.  With  good  reason  German  ethnologists  call 
peoples  in  a  low  stage  of  culture  Naturvoelker,  Nature-peoples;  and 
those  in  a  higher  stage  Culturvoelker,  Culture-peoples.  No  break 
occurs  in  the  process  of  development  from  the  former  to  the  latter,  but 
the  seeds  and  germs  found  in  lower  stages  are  unfolded,  what  is  merely 
involved  is  evolved  and  its  real  character  made  fully  manifest.  Nothing 
existing  in  man  in  a  state  of  nature,  and  essential  to  him  as  man,  is 
foreign  to  society  in  a  state  of  culture.  But  its  form  is  changed,  it 
enters  new  relations  and  combinations,  and  what  was  dominant  in  a 
state  of  nature  may  later  be  subordinated  to  what  is  higher  and  more 
significant." 

Stuckenberg,  p.  206  f. :  "Besides  the  forces  which  reign  in  man 
while  in  a  state  of  nature,  or  the  Constitutional  forces,  there  is  a 
third  class,  namely,  the  Fundamental.  They  are  the  forces  which 
are  necessary  for  the  very  existence  of  society,  at  least  in  certain  stages 
of  development  and  for  the  highest  welfare.  This  class,  the  Funda- 


8  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

mental  social  forces,  is  treated  as  preliminary  to  the  rest,  and  consists 
of  two  sub-divisions,  the  Economic  and  the  Political  forces.  The 
Constitutional  forces  are  those  which  spring  directly  from  the  constitu 
tion  of  man  and  therefore  exist  in  full  operation  among  nature-peoples 
as  well  as  among  the  cultured.  They  might  also  be  called  Elemental, 
because  inherent  in  man,  or  Organic,  because  involved  in  his  very 
organism.  They  are  the  Egotic,  the  Appetitive,  and  Affectional,  and 
the  Recreative.  The  third,  or  Cultural  class,  includes  the  forces 
inherent  in  man  so  far  as  capacity  is  concerned;  but  for  their  full 
development  and  social  efficiency  may  require  culture.  Under  this  head 
we  have  the  Aesthetic,  the  Ethical,  the  Religious,  and  the  Intellectual. 
This  gives  us  ten  forces,  under  three  general  heads,  as  follows : 

THE  SOCIAL  FORCES. 
I.     Fundamental 

1.  The  Economic. 

2.  The  Political. 
II.     Constitutional 

3.  The  Egotic. 

4.  The  Appetitive. 

5.  The  Affectional. 

6.  The  Recreative. 
III.     Cultural 

7.  The  Aesthetic. 

8.  The  Ethical. 

9.  The  Religious. 
10.  The  Intellectual. 

Ratsenhofer,  according  to  Ross    in   the  'Foundation   of   Sociology," 
p    166,  employs  the  word  interest  for  force.     He  distinguishes — 

(a)  The    race    interest;    i.    e.,    the    impulses    which    center    in    the 
reproductive  functions. 

(b)  The  physiological  interest;  i.  e.,  hunger  and  thirst. 

(c)  The    egotic    interest;   i.    e.,    the   entire   circle   of   self-regarding 
motives. 

(d)  The  social  interest. 

(e)  The   transcendental    interest,    which   creates    religion   and   phil 
osophy. 


IN  AMERICA 


9 


Dr.   Ward  in  his   "Pure   Sociology/'   p.   261,   makes   the   following 
classification : 


S    r? 

<A     ^ 
0       o 

fe     -£> 

Ontogenitic 
Forces 

J       | 

M        '"5 

Phylogenetic 

1  1 

Forces 

Positive,  Attractive  (seeking  pleasure) 
Negative,  protective  (avoiding  pain) 

Direct,  sexual 
Indirect,  consanguineal 


Sociogenetic 
Forces 


(  Moral  (seeking  the  safe  and  good) 
J  Asthetic  (seeking  the  beautiful) 
(  Intellectual  (seeking  the  useful  and  true) 


Ross  in  his  "Foundations  of  Sociology,"  p.  168,  suggests  arranging 
the  springs  of  action  in  two  planes,  instead  of  forcing  them  into  one 
plane,  under  the  general  term  of  "desires."  These  may  be  divided  into 
natural  and  cultural,  the  former  present  in  all  men,  the  latter  emerging 
clearly  only  after  man  has  made  some  gains  in  culture.  The  natural 
desires  may  be  grouped  into — 

(a)  Appetitive.     Hunger,   thirst,   and  sex-appetite. 

(b)  Hedonic.      Fear,    aversion    to    pain,    love    of    warmth,    ease,    and 

sensuous  pleasure. 

(c)  Egotic.     These  are  demands  of  the  self  rather  than  of  the  organ 

ism.     They  include  shame,  vanity,  pride,  envy,  love  of  liberty,  of 
power,  and  of  glory.     The  type  of  this  class  is  ambition. 

(d)  Affective.     Desires  that  terminate  upon  others:  sympathy,  sociabil 

ity,  love,  hate,  spite,  jealousy,  anger,  revenge. 
The  cultural  desires  are : 

(e)  Recreative.     Play  impulses,  love  of  self-expression. 

(f)  Religious.      Yearning    for    those    states    of    swimming    or    uncondi 

tioned  consciousness   represented  by  the  religious  ecstasy. 


10  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

(g)  Ethical.     Love  of  fair  play,  sense  of  justice. 

(h)   Aesthetic.     Desire  for  the  pleasures  of  perception;  i.  e.,  for  enjoy 
ment  of  "the  beautiful." 

(i)    Intellectual.      Curiosity,    love    of    knowing,    of    learning,    and    of 
imparting. 

"While  the  study  of  the  natural  wants  belongs  to  anthropology, 
the  development  of  cultural  desires  in  connection  with  association  and 
the  presence  of  culture  devolves  upon  sociology." 

Elwood,  "Sociology  in  Its  Psychological  Aspects,"  p.  284,  says: 
"Ward's  classification  seems  to  be  on  the  whole  the  most  successful,  and 
accordingly  we  shall  give  it  here  in  a  modified  form  as  an  example  of 
a  classification  of  the  social  forces  according  to  the  end  which  they 
serve  in  the  collective  life : 

SOCIAL  FORCES. 
Psychical  Activities. 
I.     Life-Preserving  Activities : 

1.  Preserving  the  life  of  the  individual, 

(a)  connected  with  nutrition   (food  process) 

(b)  connected  with  defense, 
(against  inanimate  nature), 
(against  animate  nature; 

2.  Preserving  the  life  of  the  species, 

(a)  reproduction, 

(b)  care  of  offspring. 
II.     Life-Mitigating  Activities : 

1.  Moral — aiming  at  the  good; 

2.  Asthetic — aiming  at  the  beautiful; 

3.  Intellectual — aiming  at  the  true. 

From  the  foregoing  outlines  it  appears  that  each  sociologist  has 
his  conception  as  to  the  analysis  of  the  social  forces.  That  the  view 
point  of  two  writers  and  students  can  be  the  same  is  not  to  be  expected, 
as  they  are  not  identical,  the  argument  can  not  be — personal  interest 
will  lend  color.  Professor  Ward's  analysis  of  the  social  forces  may  be 
criticised  for  being  based  on  Hedonism,  and  for  serving  philosophic 
purposes  rather  than  for  attaining  practical  ends.  The  outline  of 


IN  AMERICA  11 

Stuckenberg,  Ross  accepts  as  "excellent,"  when  he  eliminates  the 
"Fundamental"  forces — the  Economic  and  the  Political.  He  considers 
it  an  error  "to  list  the  desire  for  wealth  among  the  original  forces," 
and  claims  they  are  derivative.  From  Stuckenberg's  definition  of  the 
fundamental,  we  note  that  they  are  the  forces  necessary  "for  the  very 
existence  of  society,"  a  fact  clearly  seen  in  the  historical  development 
of  society.  It  is  apparent  that  Stuckenberg  expresses  one  fact  by  the 
term  "fundamental"  and  Ross  accepts  and  attributes  to  it  another 
sense. 

The  outline  of  Stuckenberg  because  of  its  practical  side,  is  the  one 
accepted  as  best  adapted  to  this  thesis. 

The  third  and  last  term  to  be  defined  is  "Scandinavians."  This 
term  is  used  to  designate  the  inhabitants  of  Norway,  Sweden,  Den 
mark  and  Iceland.  In  early  history  they  are  treated  as  one  people,  and 
were  commonly  called  Northmen  or  Norsemen.  As  we  proceed  in 
history  the  Scandinavians  became  more  and  more  separated  and 
discussed  under  the  terms  of  Norwegians,  Swedes,  Danes  and  Ice 
landers.  In  the  consideration  of  the  subject  of  this  thesis,  only  the 
first  three  will  be  studied. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  RACIAL  CHARACTERISTICS  AND  THE  HISTORICAL  SETTING  OF  THE 

SCANDINAVIANS. 

Different  theories  are  advanced  to  account  for  the  origin  of  the 
Scandinavian  race;  one,  which  until  recent  years  held  first  place,  was 
that  the  tall,  fair-haired,  dolichocephalic  Teutons  met  the  short,  dark, 
long-headed  Iberians  on  the  Scandinavian  peninsula  some  time  during 
the  era  of  Asiatic  migrations  westward  into  Europe.  Another 
theory  holds  that  the  Nordic  is  a  variety  of  the  Eurafrican  species, 
composed  of  Nordic,  Mediterranean  and  African,  and  that  all  Europe 
was  populated  by  migrations  of  peoples  northward  out  of  Africa. 
In  whatever  way  the  peoples  of  Scandinavia  originated,  however,  they 
show  to-day  two  distinct  racial  strains,  the  tall,  light-haired  Northern 
type  and  the  short,  dark-haired  Mediterranean  type.  Side  by  side, 
these  types,  called  Goths  and  Finners,  or  Germanic  and  Iberian  types, 
must  have  persisted  in  long  successive  ages,  for  even  to-day  unmis 
takable  disparities  are  seen  between  the  low  statured,  dark  com- 
plexioned  west-island  Norwegians,  Lapps  and  Finns,  and  the  tall,  light- 
haired,  blue-eyed  Norwegians,  Danes  and  Swedes.  As  the  latter 
predominate  and  since  for  the  purpose  of  conciseness  the  Lapps  and 
Finns  have  been  excluded  in  the  definition  of  the  subject,  the  tall,  fair, 
dolichocephalic  Northman  constitutes  the  physical  type  of  the  usual 
Scandinavian  figure. 

Charles  E.  Woodruff,  M.A.,  M.D.,  in  his  book,  "The  Effects  of 
Tropical  Light  on  White  Man,"  discusses  the  adaptation  of  the 
species  to  their  respective  zones;  he  says  that  living  forms  are  distrib 
uted  in  zones  whose  boundaries  are  isothermal.  The  species  is  limited 
in  its  northern  and  southern  extension,  though  it  may  be  found  over 
considerable  distances  in  East  and  West,  it  is  never  beyond  its  lateral 
zone.  "Migration  would  be  followed  by  extinction  sooner  or  later,  for 
acclimatization  is  not  possible."  That  the  above  is  the  absolute  truth 

12 


IN  AMERICA  13 

is  not  established.  Nothing  has  been  discovered,  however,  to  show 
that  a  progress  of  selection  has  been  at  work  preserving  a  variation  of 
species  "not  adjusted  to  its  environment."  Hence  in  the  event  of  a 
migration  to  another  zone,  it  may  perish  at  once  or  it  may  die  a  "slow 
death,"  or  live  for  generations  before  "accumulated  injuries  are  fatal." 

If  they  are  survivors  of  the  descendants  of  the  migrants,  they 
constitute  the  result  of  the  elimination  of  the  unfit.  These  are,  in  the 
opinion  of  Mr.  Woodruff,  "a  new  form  different  from  the  migrated 
ancestor — that  is,  there  has  been  the  origin  of  a  new  species.  This  is 
the  only  way  that  acclimatization  is  possible — destruction  of  the  old 
unacclimated  or  unadjusted  form  and  the  selection  of  a  new  adjusted 
or  acclimated  one."  Man,  like  other  "living  forms,"  obeys  the  same 
natural  laws,  hence  the  special  type  of  man  found  in  one  zone  is  not 
found  in  another,  similar  characteristics  may  be  present,  but  in  different 
degrees,  and  consequently  combine  differently,  forming  a  new  type. 
Agassiz  taught  that  as  acclimatization  was  impossible,  "there  was  a 
separate  divine  creation  of  each  type  of  man."  Woodruff,  p.  3. 

By  the  law  of  the  survival  of  the  fittest,  there  arose  a  separate  type 
in  each  zoological  zone  and  the  respective  type  is  unfitted  for  any 
other  zone  "different  from  the  ancestral  one."  The  intelligence  of  man 
enables  him  to  appreciate  the  dangers  of  a  climate  and  other  natural 
difficulties  and  to  prepare  himself  with  proper  protection,  so  that  he 
may  survive  longer  than  other  forms  out  of  this  zone. 

Under  the  caption  "Purposes  of  Variations,"  he  further  discusses 
why  tEeir  character  is  beneficial  in  a  zone  and  "why  a  different  char- 
/  acter  arose  in  a  different  zone."  By  ascertaining  the  cause  for  this,  we 
can  understand  why  races  fail  to  colonize  beyond  the  borders  of  their 
ancestral  zone,  and  informs  us  how  we  may  avoid  the  destructive 
factors  if  we  are  compelled  by  business  to  reside  temporarily  in  a 
climate  for  which  we  are  physically  unfit.  As  examples  of  the  physical 
conditions,  he  mentions  the  size  of  the  nose  and  the  position  of  th«? 
nostrils.  In  the  tropics,  where  the  air  is  hot  and  consequently  rarified, 
more  is  necessary,  hence  "the  nostrils  are  open  and  wide  and  the  nose 
very  flat,"  whereas  in  cold  countries  the  passages  must  be  so 
constructed  as  not  to  permit  too  much  cold  air  and  irritate  the  lining 
membrane,  hence  a  nose  with  much  warming  service  and  nostrils  as 
"slender  slits."  It  is  stated  that  the  open  tropical  nostril  was  one  reason 


14  SCANDINAVIANS   AS  A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

for  the  prevalency  of  pulmonary  trouble  of  Negroes  out  of  the  tropics. 
The  conclusion,  therefore,  must  be  that  there  has  been  a  natural 
selection  in  cold  countries  of  one  kind  of  variations  and  a  different 
selection  in  hot  countries  representing  the  other  extreme,  thus  the 
various  types  arose.  Another  feature  pointed  out  by  Mr.  Woodruff,  is 
that  color  due  to  the  pigmentation  of  the  skin,  hair,  retina,  iris  and 
blondness,  enable  men  in  the  North  to  save  heat  and  to  keep  warm, 
but  was  at  a  disadvantage  in  the  tropics,  as  it  kept  men  too  warm.  It 
is  known  that  the  Negroes  in  the  North  have  greater  difficulty  in  keep 
ing  warm  than  the  white  man.  By  applying  the  explanation  of  Mr. 
Woodruff,  we  may  understand  why  Scandinavians  are  mostly  blondes 
and  have  their  physical  characteristics ;  i.  e.,  nature  has  made  them  for 
their  zone.  Further  consideration  of  the  above  facts  will  be  found  in 
the  deductions  of  the  last  chapter. 

Tall,  fair,  dolichocephalic  peoples  have  been  said  to  possess  certain 
psychic  traits,  to  be  impatient  of  control,  dominant  but  loyal,  swayed 
by  deep  ideals  and  to  be  originators  of  great  ideas  and  workers  for 
far  ends.  This  is  the  psychic  type  of  early  Scandinavians.  War  train 
ing  and  out-of-door  games  developed  a  spirit  of  resistance  and  virility 
in  keeping  with  their  tall  bodies  playing  like  gods,  games  of  skill  on 
fields  illumined  by  flickering  northern  lights. 

"The  outward  look  of  the  Norse  and  the  Dane  was  much  the 
same.  Broad-shouldered,  deep-chested,  long-limbed,  yet  with  slender 
waist,  small  hands  and  feet,  their  figures  told  of  strength;  and  so 
necessary  was  strength  considered  that  puny  infants  were  exposed  and 
left  to  die,  the  healthy  children  alone  being  preserved.  Their  com 
plexion,  their  hair  and  eyes,  were  fair — and  the  fair  alone  could  pass 
for  beautiful  or  well-born.  A  dark  complexion  was  considered  the 
mark  of  an  alien  race,  and  dishonorable.  Thus  Baldir,  the  noblest  of 
the  gods,  was  fair,  and  the  outward  appearance  of  the  slave  was  thus 
contrasted  with  that  of  the  freeman.  Black  and  ugly  they  were. 
Their  forefather,  Thrall,  had  a  broad  face,  bent  back,  long  heels, 
blistered  hands,  stiff,  slow  joints,  and  clumsy  figure.  His  wife,  Thy, 
was  bandy-legged,  flat-nosed,  and  her  arms  were  brown  with  toiling 
in  the  sun.  Their  children  were  like  them. 

The  ordinary  dress  of  both  sexes  was  nearly  the  same.     A  shirt, 


IN  AMERICA  15 


loose   drawers,   long  hose,   b*ffh    shnes   with   thflflS^   ftpriated   up   af   the 

ankle.  A  short  kirtle  girt  at  the  waist  served  for  coat  or  gown;  an 
armless  cloak,  with  a  low-crowned,  broad-brimmed  hat  completed  the 
dress  of  man.  The  woman,  instead  of  the  hat,  wore  a  wimple  of 
linen,  and  over  thaTlTTiigh  twisted  cap,  sometimes  .bent  at  the  top  into 

dressed  much   as   the  man.     The 


under-clothing  of  both  sexes  was  of  linen;  their  outer,  of  course,  jwoolen 
homespinv—  grey,  or  black,  or  blue,  or  red,  the  most  prized  of  all. 

To  this  the  chiefs  added,  in  time  of  war,  a  helm  and  shirt  of  mail; 
and  all  were  armed  with  a  long  shield,  protecting  the  whole  body, 
white,  in  time  of  peace;  red,  in  time  of  war,  covered  with  leather  with 
iron  rim  and  boss  ;  spears  of  ashen  shaft  and  iron  point,  axes,  and  above 
all,  the  sword,  the  darling  of  the  Northmen. 

Their  ships  were  long,  half-decked  galleys,  propelled  by  oars  and 
sail.  The  waist,  where  the  rowers  sat,  was  low,  that  the  oars  might 
have  free  play."  (Johnson,  R.  H.  Normans  in  Europe,  pp.  16-17.) 

Physically  dominant  as  they  were,  they  did  not  scorn  to  render 
service,  to  pledge  everlasting  loyalty  to  a  comrade  through  the  mystic 
blood  bond  of  friendship,  and  to  promise  and  maintain  marital  fidelity 
and  steadfast  conjugal  devotion.  Yoked  with  this  trait  of  jstaunch 
loyalty,  the  capacity  for  deep  religious  reverence  stands  out  as  one  of 
the  most  prominent  SHnSinavia.ir"  cHafacteristics.  The  hold  which 
religion,  pagan  at  first,  and  later  Christian,  had  over  the  early  Scan 
dinavians  reflects  thHr~T6m'bfeness"of  personality  and  devotion  to  ideals. 
Will  power,  massive  and  unyielding,  was  the  teaching  of  their  moral 
code."  Under  the  worship  of  Coin  and  Baal,  a  Viking  was  fired  to  deeds 
of  endurance,  was  tossed  to  the  pitch  of  actual  conquest  or  certain 
death,  all  the  while  sustained  by  the  pictured  glories  of  the  godland, 
that  region  where  heroes  proceeded;  till  they  fell,  with  Ragnarok,  the 
downfall  of  the  gods,  this  structure  of  bliss  built  by  Scandinavian 
imagination.  With  the  passing  of  pagan  times  the  transcendent  beauty 
of  northern  belief  faded,  but  the  spirit  that  gave  the  faiths  their  beauty 
survived  in  the  songs  of  the  skalds  and  the  glorious  adventures  of  the 
Vikings  on  the  seas.  Scandinavian  psychic  traits  expressed  in  early 
poetry  and  romance  emphasize  love  of  the  supernatural  and  strong  sex 
consciousness.  Through  ice-locked  fjords  and  over  mountain  tops 
glided  the  feet  of  the  "little  people,"  cognizance  of  whose  wishes  meant 


16  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

the  well  being  or  misfortune  of  individuals.  Just  as  to-day  the  fishers 
fear  the  appearance  of  the  "drage,"  that  creature  who  rides  in  a  half- 
boat  and  who  foretells  instant  death,  so  in  those  far-away  times  all 
people  feared  and  loved  the  "little  people."  Of  them  the  skald  would 
sing  as  they  came  visiting,  entering  halls  or  huts  heartily  welcomed. 
Such  teachers  of  religion,  science  and  literature  turned  banquets  into 
halls  of  merriment  with  their  gay  songs,  their  long  accounts  of  war 
deeds  or  love  episodes. 

The  character  of  these  hardy  Northmen  was  well  suited  to  their 
future  destiny. 

Johnson,  in  his  "History  of  Normans  in  Europe,"  p.  18,  says: 
"The  daily  struggle  for  existence  in  an  inhospitable  climate  had  taught 
them  fearlessness  and  ready  wit  in  danger.  From  the  absence  of  all 
aristocracy  or  other  privileged  classes  they  had  acquired  a  spirit  of 
independence,  a  haughty  and  unbending  character,  which  prepared  them 
for  their  future  conquests.  Set  face  to  face  with  the  mysteries  of 
nature  and  of  their  self-taught  religion,  they  had  gained  an  heroic  fan- 
cifulness,  a  thoughtful  sternness  which  lit  up  the  darker  tints.  These 
features  were  the  natural  result  of  the  free  and  independent  life  of 
their  forefathers.  To  these  we  must  add  a  cold-blooded  ferocity,  con 
tracted  in  the  long  civil  disturbances  which  had  torn  their  country 
since  the  end  of  the  eighth  century.  All  these  are  the  qualities  common 
in  early  times  of  successful  conquerors;  but  as  we  follow  the  history 
of  their  settlements,  another  more  important  feature  appears;  namely, 
their  extraordinary  versatility  and  power  of  adapting  themselves  to 
varied  forms  and  states  of  society.  The  Northmen  never  seem  to  have 
been  original,  to  have  invented  anything;  rather  they  readily  assumed 
the  language,  religion,  ideas  of  their  adopted  country,  and  soon  became 
absorbed  in  the  society  around  them.  This  will  be  found  to  be 
invarably  the  case,  except  with  regard  to  Iceland,  where  the  previous 
occupation  was  too  insignificant  to  affect  the  new  settlers.  In  Russia, 
they  became  Russians;  in  France,  Frenchmen;  in  Italy,  Italians;  in 
England,  twice  over  Englishmen ;  first  in  the  case  of  the  Danes ;  and 

/secondly,  in  that  of  the  later  Normans.  Everywhere  they  became  fused 
in  the  surrounding  nationality.  Their  individuality  was  lost,  and  their 
presence  is  traced  only  in  the  nomenclature  of  the  country,  that  fossil 
remnant  of  denationalized  races,  as  it  has  been  called.  Not  so  their 


IN  AMERICA  17 

influence.  They_  fell  on  stirring  .times,  and  in  every  case  they  took  the 
leadTand  deeply  affected  the  nations  with  which  they  came  in  contact. 
Europe  at  that  date  was  m  a  fluid  state,  and  the  Northmen  seem 
to  have  acted  as  a  crystallizing  power ;  to  have  formed  a  nucleus 
round  which  political  society  might  grow.  In  Iceland  they  formed  a 
free  republic ;  in  Russia  they  first  organized  a  kingdom ;  in  England 
they,  by  their  pressure,  first  consolidated  the  kingdom  of  Wessex,  then 
conquered  it  under  Canute  and  William  I. ;  in  the  West-Frankish 
country  they  finally  put  an  end  to  the  long  struggle  for  supremacy, 
sounded  the  death-knell  of  the  Karolings  of  Laon,  and  aided  to  form 
modern  France.  Nor  is  this  all ;  they  borrow  everything  and  make  it 
their  own,  and  their  presence  is  chiefly  felt  in  increased  activity  and 
more  rapid  development  of  institutions,  literature  and  art.  Thus,  while 
they  invent  nothing,  they  perfect,  they  organize  everything,  and 
everywhere  appear  to  be  the  master-spirits  of  their  age." 

Under  their  lead  bloomed  the  flower  of  romance  in  the  north. 
But  in  romance  itself  there  is  such  a  dearth  of  sentiment,  of  gilded 
speeches  and  amorous  situations;  all  is  terribly  forcible,  earnest  and 
turbulent  with  elemental  passion.  It  is  of  high-handed  conquest  the 
Northman  sang  and  of  such  actions  was  his  romance  made. 

In  action  lay  the  greatness  of  the  early  Scandinavians;  world 
conquest  was  his  controlling  idea  and  far  worked-for  end,  and 
"Vandrel^"  expresses  that  yearning  which  took  the  Viking  conquest 
so  far  afield.  Bred  in  a  land  of  long  winter,  hemmed  in  by  mountains, 
narrow  fjords  and  the  gloom  of  northern  skies,  all  the  exuberance  of 
life  fed  by  splendid  physical  condition  leaped  into  being  when  the 
Northman  sprang  into  his  long-beaked  ship,  donned  his  high,  winged 
cap,  called  to  his  men,  freemen  all,  and  sons  of  freemen,  to  go  forth 
to  conquer,  pillage  and  harass  half  the  then  known  world.  Prows 
carved  as  serpents,  golden  eagles,  ravens,  or  dragons  swept  through 
icy  waters  as  the  marauders  advancing  south  to  England  and  France, 
north  to  Greenland  and  west  to  America,  brought  terror  to  any  land 
which  had  once  felt  the  fangs  of  those  wolves  of  the  high  seas. 
English  conquests,  French  pillages  and  arctic  colonizing  bore  witness 
to  the  spirit  of  those  intrepid  voyagers  before  the  end  of  the  adventur 
ous  era  brought  a  quiescence  which  was  in  turn  to  be  broken  by  the  hot 
protest  of  the  Reformation,  the  fever  of  colonizing  epochs  of  the  seven- 


18  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

teenth  century  and  the  splendid  New  World  immigrating  spirit  of  the 
nineteenth  century. 

The  psychic  Scandinavian  type  thus  emerges  as  a  distinct  whole, 
compounded  of  strongly  marked  traits,  of  virility,  pride  in  feats  of 
endurance  and  exhibitions  of  physical  skill,  of  deep-seated  loyalty  to 
others,  devoted  steadfastness  in  conjugal  relationships;  also  possessing 
fervent  religious  tendencies,  love  of  the  supernatural,  affection  for 
poetry,  strong  sex  consciousness  and  an  all-powerful  love  of  adventure 
and  glorious  independence.  Instances  of  the  working  out  of  these  traits 
can  be  found  in  the  panorama  of  Scandinavian  history.  One  trait, 
sturdy  independence,  featured  in  the  attempted  introduction  of  Chris 
tianity,  in  the  establishment  of  jury  trials,  and  in  the  Reformation 
light  for  religious  freedom.  In  1000,  when  Gorm  the  Old  ruled  Den 
mark,  Christian  missionaries  were  stoutly  resisted  till,  explaining  that 
they  did  not  come  to  brutally  stamp  out  the  old  religion  but  peacefully 
sought  to  substitute  a  new  faith  of  gentleness  and  kindness  in  place  of 
the  old,  they  were  allowed  to  circulate  among  the  Danes;  arbitrariness 
bred  resistance,  and  intolerance  open  rebellion.  The  justice  of  trial 
by  jury  was  common,  and  practiced  in  Scandinavia  before  its  intro 
duction  into  England  by  Henry  II.  Likewise  resistance  to  papal 
autocracy  again  widened  the  strong  democratic  strain  which  has  so 
often  been  exhibited  by  Scandinavians  in  history. 

Such  is  the  Scandinavian  type  which  plays  a  long  role  from  those 
far  distant  days  when  Greek  Pytheas  referred  to  Scandinavian  men 
as  "Hyperboreans,"  dwellers  beyond  the  northwind,  to  the  present 
day,  when  as  dwellers  in  America  they  present  themselves  as  contribu 
tors  to  the  social  forces  at  work  in  American  life.  To  scan  such 
length  of  years,  Scandinavian  history  may  be  divided  into  two  periods, 
the  earlier,  2500  B.  C.  to  1300  A.  D.,  and  1300  to  the  present  day. 

With  the  above  introduction  it  is  possible  to  commence  Scandina 
vian  history  as  far  back  as  facts,  or  semi-established  facts,  go.  Keep 
ing  to  the  truth,  it  is  well  known  that  a  branch  of  the  Teutonic  or 
Nordic  race  came  early  to  Scandinavia  because  of  the  excellence  of 
the  herring  fishing,  that  they  were  attracted  to  stay  and  hunt  and 
raise  cattle,  and  that  they  later  took  part  in  trade  of  amber  and  furs 
with  the  Mediterranean  world. 

All   this  happened   before   400   B.   C.      Simultaneouslv   there   arose 


IN  AMERICA  19 

stories  of  the  deeds  of  the  heroes.  Odin_l_ed_  the^Asas  out_of._Asia  into 
Scandinavia,  and  at  his  death  gave  the  land  to  his  three  sons,  Denmark 
to  Skgold,  Sweden  to  Yngave,  and  Norway,  to  Soeming.  Harold  of 
Denmark  fought  the  mythical  battle  of  Bravalla  and  killed  Sigurd  of 
Sweden,  whose  son  Ragnar  met  death  in  a  pit  of  serpents. 

That  history  really  began  about  the  time  of  Alfred  the  Great  is 
corroborated  by  the  history  of  the  three  Scandinavian  countries.  In 
each  a  definite  land  system,  featured  by  the  family  holding,  freehold 
and  hundred,  seems  to  have  been  in  existence.  From  the  peasant 
land-holders  there  eventually  sprang  up  rulers  over  certain  portions  of 
holdings,  and  from  these  rulers  came  a  concentration  of  power  in  one 
king  who  picked  his  diet,  the  assize  or  thing,  from  them.  Denmark 
forming  a  nation  about  the  sound,  Sweden  around  Lake  Malaren,  and 
Norway  last  to  attain  a  national  unity,  because  of  her  remoteness, 
each  became  a  kingdom  ruled  by  her  own  house  Till  the  formation  of 
the  Kalmar  Union  in  1397,  the  three  countries  existed  side  by  side, 
keeping  pace  in  industrial  development,  in  growth  of  towns  and  in 
forming  a  steadily  enlarging  nobility.  Tjie_advejit_.0-LSt.  Birgitta  in  the 
Church  and  the  Black  Death,  that  scourge  of  the  Middle  Ages,  mark 
the  closing  of  the  first  period. 

A  brief  review  points  out  these  important  facts  in  the  subsequent 
period.  From  1397  to  1448  lasted  the  union  of  the  three  countries,  then 
Sweden  retired.  Before  that  date  occurred  the  era  of  Gustavus 
AdoTphus  in  Sweden,  afterwards,  the  periods  of  the  brilliant  ministries 
of  the  Bernstoffs  in  Denmark,  and  the  corresponding  cultivation  of  the 
fine  arts.  Wars  were  waged  against  Napoleon  in  1808,  and  Finland 
was  lost  to  Sweden  in  1809.  In  1814  Norway  and  Denmark  separated, 
and  Norway  and  Sweden  formed  the  alliance  which  lasted  to  1905. 
What  is  of  more  picturesque  significance  to  the  world  drama,  how 
ever,  are  the  points  of  contact  which  Scandinavia  made  upon  the 
other  countries  during  both  the  earlier  and  later  periods.  Into  the 
earlier  fall  those  highly  dramatic  Viking  voyages,  exploratory  trips, 
war  maraudings  and  trial  colonizing  tours  of  which  so  much  has  been 
written.  To  the  later  period  falls  the  American  immigration  and  its 
subsequent  contribution  to  the  history  of  American  greatness. 

Three  great  cycles  encompass  the  old  Viking  raids.  Barbaric 
invasions  of  Rome  fill  an  early  cycle  occurring  about  100  B.  C.  Then 


20  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

the  Cimbri  and  Longobardi,  strange  peoples  appearing  from  beyond 
the  mountains,  challenged  three  successive  armies  of  Manus  before 
they  could  be  checked.  Cruel,  forcible  and  pitiless,  this  Viking  move 
ment  was  characterized  by  none  of  the  constructive  features  of  the 
later  movements,  merely  brute  force  pouring  into  an  effete  civilization. 
When  in  806,  though,  a  band  of  Swedish  warriors  entered  what  is 
now  Russia  from  "Rus,"  meaning  contingent  of  sea-enlisted  warriors, 
a  constructive  note  was  struck,  which  was  followed  up  by  the  positive 
results  of  the  Byzantium  approaches,  when  the  Vikings  offered  aid  to 
the  king  of  that  city.  In  the  neighborhood  of  their  northern  home 
Vikings  likewise  adventured,  for  in  861  Iceland  was  discovered  and 
colonized  by  Ingolf,  and  Greenland  by  Erik  the  Red,  who  peopled  the 
island  800  years  before  Hans  Egede  went  there  preaching  Christianity. 
America  was  reached ;  Lief  the  Fortunate,  son  of  Erik,  in  voyaging 
to  Greenland,  met  shipwrecked  mariners  whom  he  carried  to  their 
destination,  thereby  reaching  lands  which  he  called  Hellund  (New 
foundland),  and  Markland  (Nova  Scotia).  Later  Thorwald,  Lief's 
brother,  came  to  Massachusetts,  and  the  intercourse  which  was  kept 
up  until  the  fourteenth  century  is  said  to  have  been  the  basis  of 
Columbus'  curiosity  about  further  discoveries  in  the  west.  Whether 
it  can  be  implicitly  believed  that  to  the  Scandinavians  is  due  the  d^s- 
covery  of  America,  or  not,  it  is  well  known  that  no  country  possessed 
at  the  time  such  inordinate  love  of  the  sea  and  such  wanderers  to 
brave  the  dangers  of  unknown  lands  as  the  Viking  Norsemen. 

But  through  Europe  ran  the  greatest  Norse  raids.  The  tale  of 
their  conquests  in  Belgium,  France  and  Germany  is  only  equalled  by 
their  exhibited  prowess  in  the  British  Isles.  Not  only  is  the  distinction 
of  the  breaking  of  Charlemagne's  Empire  given  creditably  to  the 
harassing  Vikings,  but  the  very  growth  of  France  itself  as  a  national 
power  dates  from  the  rise  of  the  city  of  Paris  against  the  invader's 
army.  Armed  for  the  siege  of  Rouen,  the  Norse  warriors  swept  up  the 
Seine,  then,  having  won  one  stronghold,  advanced  to  Paris,  the  seat  ot 
warfare.  Strong  resistance  broke  the  ranks  of  the  attacking  hordes; 
Paris  saved  by  Count  Odo,  sprang  into  life  as  a  centre  of  the  newly- 
born  French  nation  and  the  Empire  of  Charlemagne  was  crippled. 
Rnilo,  the  Norse  leader,  stayed  on  in  Normandy,  his  warriors  were 
named  Norman  noblemen,  and  from  this  race  sprang  that  brilliant  figure 


IN  AMERICA  21 

of  the  eleventh  and  twelfth  centuries,  William  the  Conqueror  of 
England. 

All  that  we  can  feel  certain  of,  all,  at  least,  which  it  is,  in  any 
way  important  to  remember,  js  ^he  frequency  and  enormous  area  of  the 
attacks,  and  this  cannot  be  put  in  better  words  than  those  of  Sir  Francis 
Patgrave :  "Take,"  he  says,  "the  map,  and  cover  with  vermilion  the 
provinces,  districts,  and  shores  which  the  Northmen  visited.  As  a 
record  of  each  invasion,  the  coloring  will  have  to  be  repeated  more  than 
ninety  times  successively,  before  you  arrive  at  the  conclusion  of  the 
dynasty  of  Charles  the  Great.  Furthermore,  mark  by  the  usual  symbol 
of  war,  two  crossed  swords,  the  localities  where  battles  were  fought 
by  the  pirates,  where  they  were  defeated  or  triumphant,  or  where  they 
pillaged,  burned  or  destroyed,  and  the  valleys  and  the  banks  of  the 
Elbe,  Rhine  and  Moselle,  Scheldt,  Meuse,  Somme  and  Seine,  Loire, 
Garomme  and  Adour,  and  all  the  coasts  and  coast-lands  between  estuary 
and  estuary,  all  the  countries  between  river  and  streams  will  appear 
bristling  as  with  chevaux  de  frise."  This  will  give  us  some  idea  of 
the  invasions  as  far  as  Gaul  and  Germany  are  concerned;  but  it 
should  be  repeated  for  England,  Scotland,  and  the  islands  which 
surround  their  coasts,  to  give  any  adequate  conception  of  the  misery 
they  caused. 

Long  had  the  plundering  Norsemen  harassed  the  coasts  of  English 
country;  bitterly  during  the  9th  and  10  centuries  did  they  advance  to 
pillage,  burn,  devastate  Anglo-Saxon  villages,  to  terrorize  the  kingdom 
and  exact  huge  ransoms  for  unfulfilled  promises.  Such  infusion  of 
rampant  paganism,  high  spirit,  and  invigorating  character  as  the  Danes 
brought  to  England  was  little  felt  in  the  days  of  devastation,  it  is  only 
from  the  long  point  of  view  of  the  centuries  that  beneficial  results  of 
such  infusion  can  be  seen.  The  staunch,  unyielding  character  of  the 
English  people  against  encroachment  upon  their  rights,  the  bitter  lesson 
of  jury  trial,  representation  in  government,  and  charter  grants  have 
come  in  a  great  measure,  it  is  believed,  from  that  very  infusion  of 
Scandinavian  blood. 

But  with  the  close  of  the  llth  century  the  great  era  of  the  Viking 
pales.  Still  much  high  national  vigor  was  poured  into  the  ranks  of  the 
Christians,  who  under  Tancred  fought  at  Antioch  and  Tiberius  for  the 
recovery  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre  in  the  Crusading  wars.  In  the  same 


22  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

century  Scandinavians  poured  into  Switzerland,  their  powers  still 
respected  and  feared.  The  great  stream  of  adventurous  wanderings 
had  ceased,  however,  the  boyhood  days  of  the  nation  were  over,  and 
the  fiery  national  spirit  only  flared  up  in  the  valiant  part  which  Scan 
dinavia  took  in  combating  the  powers  of  the  Reformation,  and  in  the 
Napoleonic  battles  of  the  19th  century. 

Scandinavia  had  played  her  part,  a  gigantically  strong  part  in  the 
world  drama.  In  the  days  of  emigrations  she  peopled  many  parts  of 
the  earth,  sent  her  best  fighting  blood  to  war  in  all  quarters  of  the 
then  known  world,  and  besides,  invigorated  and  relieved  priest-ridden 
civilizations  in  the  crumbling  decades  of  the  world's  history  of  growth. 
Truly  the  Scandinavian  figure,  possessing  great  physical  strength, 
dominating  energy,  loyalty  to  chieftain  and  brother,  filled  with  the  love 
of  the  seas,  of  the  poetry  of  motion  and  the  rhythm  of  conquest,  and 
touched  by  the  grandeur  which  comes  from  leadership  in  north-lying 
countries,  by  the  imaginativeness  of  inquiring,  childlike  minds,  truly 
such  a  figure  has  figured  significantly  in  the  adventurous  era  of  Europe. 
That  indeed,  the  history  of  the  three  Northern  countries  shows  great 
loyalty  to  democratic  ideals  of  government,  great  religious  tolerance, 
strong  sense  of  Scandinavian  consciousness,  and  tremendous  and  deep- 
seated  energy,  is  undoubted.  Their  old  world  contribution  is  loyalty 
and  unsparing  strength  with  all  the  poetic  heritage  of  an  adventurous 
era.  Their  new  world  contribution  unfolds  in  the  history  of  immigra 
tion  to  America. 


CHAPTER  III. 

HISTORY  OF  SCANDINAVIAN  IMMIGRATION. 

An  analysis  of  the  causes  which  brought  about  emigration  from 
Scandinavia  to  America  discloses  several  factors  which  at  different 
times,  induced  Norwegians,  Swedes  and  Danes  to  come  to  America. 
Trade  impelled  the  colonizing  immigrants,  for  in  the  days  of  the  pros 
perous  Dutch  West  Indian  Company,  rich  results  were  looked  for  in 
America,  such  as  skins,  Indian  corn  and  tobacco,  the  trade  articles 
which  attracted  the  Swedes  to  the  shores  of  the  Delaware  River.  But 
trade  did  not  on  the  whole  rank  very  long  as  a  cause  for  emigration. 
Religion  can  be  said  to  be  the  first  really  dominant  cause.  The  wish 
to  worship  according  to  their  own  ideas  led  the  first  Norwegian 
Quakers  to  New  York  State  in  1825,  while  later  Gruntvigian  and  Mor 
mon  ideas  had  some  influence,  though  small,  upon  emigrating  Scan 
dinavians,  but,  since  no  very  strong  religious  persecution  ever  took 
place  in  the  Scandinavian  countries,  it  at  no  time  constituted  a  prime 
cause.  What  early  strength  it  had  was  soon  lost  in  a  greater  impetus, 
the  subtle  attraction  of  letters  homeward  bound  from  countrymen  who 
had  already  emigrated.  Among  all  the  other  causes,  military,  commer 
cial  and  financial,  which  arose  and  subsequently  passed  away,  the 
pressure  of  this  attraction,  the  accounts  of  America  contained  in  letters, 
held  its  insistent  sway.  Reluctant  to  engage  in  required  military 
training,  the  young  men  of  the  country  read  letters,  pamphlets  and 
newspapers  describing  the  glories  of  the  new  country,  then  embarked 
for  America. 

But  economic  pressure  proved  the  strongest  factor  influencing 
emigration.  In  Norway,  for  instance,  the  money  lenders  were  con 
tracting  the  currency,  reducing  the  value  of  the  dollar,  thereby  main 
taining  higher  incomes  and  cheaper  labor.  The  common  people  felt  it. 
Lower  class  farmers,  too,  were  caught  in  the  reaction  of  the  railroad 
building  of  1865-1869.  Extended  railroad  construction,  much  inflation 

23 


24  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

of  property  values  and  constantly  increasing  loans  met  the  natural 
check.  Norway  found  herself  too  small  a  country,  too  restricted  in 
resources,  to  keep  up  the  pace  she  had  set,  and  the  smaller  farmer 
felt  the  reaction.  So  poverty  and  dissatisfaction  with  the  office-holding 
class  drove  the  Norwegians  to  America.  A  state  bankruptcy  and  war 
early  in  the  nineteenth  century,  together  with  low  wages  throughout 
the  period  influenced  the  Danes  to  come,  while,  withal,  the  spirit  of 
adventure  and  a  desire  to  better  their  condition,  moved  these  North- 
Europeans  to  come  to  a  land  of  brilliant  futures.  And  it  was  true 
indeed  that  America  held  out  tempting  prospects.  Extension  of  rail 
roads  westward,  the  Homestead  Act  of  1862,  besides  numerous  contracts 
between  land  and  railroad  companies,  were  opening  up  the  northwestern 
territory  of  the  United  States.  Consequently,  jointly,  economic  pressure 
in  Europe  and  economic  attraction  in  America  started  and  maintained 
the  great  mass  of  Scandinavian  American  immigration.  This  is  the 
great  cause :  trade  and  religion  appeared,  effected  results  and  passed 
away ;  military  obligations  had  some  little  influence,  and  while  the 
power  of  letters  and  the  press  was  felt  throughout  the  immigration 
period,  it  was  economic  conditions  which  moved  the  great  mass  of  the 
people  westward. 

The  earliest  mention  of  Scandinavians  on  American  shores  is  in 
1609,  when  it  is  claimed  that  Hudson,  possibly  a  Dane,  sailed  up  the 
Mauritius  Floden,  or  Hudson  River.  This  opens  the  colonial  period 
to  which  belongs  an  account  of  scattered  Danish  or  other  Scandinavian 
traders  and  of  certain  definite  Swedish  settlements  on  the  Delaware. 
Following  the  colonial  period,  Scandinavian  immigration  history  con 
cerns  itself  with  the  settlements  of  Norwegians  in  New  York  State  in 
1825,  with  Norwegian,  Swedish  and  Danish  settlements  in  the  west  and 
northwest  in  1836-1870,  and  finally  deals  with  the  large  movements  of 
immigrants  in  the  decades  of  1870-1900.  An  attempt  will  be  made  to 
present  each  period,  the  colonial,  1609-1665;  intermediate,  1800-1870; 
and  the  later,  1870-1900,  with  an  anlysis  of  the  character  and  develop 
ment  of  each  period. 

On  account  of  the  relatively  close  lying  position  of  Denmark  and 
Holland,  the  assumption  is  made  that  Hendrick  Hudson  was  perhaps 
of  Danish  blood.  To  the  Danes  it  seems  likely  that,  because  many 
Danish  sailors  were  often  to  be  met  in  Dutch  ports,  American  voyages 


IN  AMERICA  25 

might  sometimes  have  been  due  to  the  Danish  nation.  So  they  claim 
that  when  Hendrick  Hudson  sailed  in  1609  to  American  shores,  dis 
covered  and  named  the  Mauritius  Floden,  or  Hudson  River,  as  it  was 
later  called,  such  an  occurrence  marks  the  first  Scandinavian  event  in 
America.  Whether  or  not  it  can  be  so  called,  it  is  certain  that  Danes 
were  at  any  rate  on  the  ship,  and  that,  when  Hudson  met  the  Indians 
at  the  mouth  of  Mauritius  Floden  and  inquired  the  name  of  Menaten 
Island  (now  Manhattan),  Danes  were  present.  Surely  in  1611  a  Dane, 
Captain  Henry  Christiansen,  sailed  to  New  York.  He  came  in  a  Dutch 
vessel  from  the  West  Indies,  visited  New  York  and  took  back  skins  and 
corn  to  Holland.  When  in  1613  he  returned,  a  partner,  Adrian  Block, 
accompanied  him.  In  sailing  up  the  Hudson  River,  meeting  and  trading 
with  Orson  and  Valentine,  they  persuaded  these  Indian  chiefs  to  return 
to  Holland  with  them.  It  is  said  that  Christiansen  and  Block  travelled 
about  the  country  exhibiting  their  strange  visitors.  Such  mutual 
friendship  between  the  Indians  and  hosts  did  not,  however,  endure; 
the  "Fortune"  and  "Tiger,"  the  two  vessels  commanded  by  Christian 
sen  and  Block,  voyaged  to  and  fro  from  America  about  ten  times ; 
Albany  was  reached  and  fortified  as  Fort  Nassau,  but  Christiansen, 
who  died  there  in  1614,  is  reported  to  have  been  treacherously  mur 
dered  by  the  Indian  chief,  Orson.  Block  lost  his  boat  "Tiger"  outside 
of  Battery  Place,  so  was  forced  to  remain  in  America;  he  built  four 
log  houses  at  about  the  present  39  Broadway, — this  was  the  beginning 
of  New  Amsterdam.  (Danes  in  America,  p.  360.)  This  made  a  place 
of  trade,  New  Netherland  the  post  was  called,  and  after  this  several 
traces  of  Scandinavian  names  have  been  found. 

Most  suggestive  of  interest  is  the  arrival  in  1639  of  a  certain 
captain  of  the  East  Indian  Company  by  name  of  Kayser  or  Jochiem 
Pieters  Knyter.  With  him  was  a  friend,  Ursus  Bronck  of  Copen 
hagen  (see  p.  364  Danes  in  America),  who  received  land  along  the 
Harlem  River.  There  this  much  respected  man  built  a  house  calling  it 
"Emaus,"  to  which  came  the  Governor,  making  treaties  with  the 
Indians  when  trouble  broke  out.  The  import  and  significance  of  the 
man  Bronck,  Bronx,  is  not  to  be  overlooked  in  the  ensuing  development 
of  the  metropolis  of  Manhattan,  for,  if  the  claims  of  the  Danes  for  the 
Danish  nationalism  of  the  man  proves  worthy  of  acceptance,  the  fact 


26  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

of  his  arrival  and  settlement  picturesquely  fills  in  the  very  early  colo 
nial  period  of  Scandinavian  American  history. 

Colonizing  was  first  thought  of  in  Sweden  along  with  trade,  and 
from  1607  to  1663  many  trading  companies  were  organized  in  Sweden, 
but  the  one  which  prominently  antedates  New  Sweden,  in  America, 
was  a  trading  company  organized  by  William  Usselinx,  a  Dutchman,  in 
1624.  Being  dissatisfied  with  his  treatment  by  Holland  in  connection 
with  the  Dutch  West  Indian  Company,  he  came  to  Sweden  to  interest 
the  king  in  a  trading  project  which  should  bring  wealth  to  the  Swedish 
crown.  Gustavus  Adolphus,  having  just  covered  himself  with  glory  in 
his  European  wars,  ready  to  welcome  any  large  schemes,  was  soon 
prevailed  upon  to  give  Willem  Usselinx  a  commission  to  establish  a 
"General  Trading  Company  for  Asia,  Africa,  America  and  Magellam'ca." 
Usselinx  drew  up  his  prospectus  and  started  to  get  subscrip 
tions;  but  the  latter,  although  reinforced  by  crown  support,  did  not 
quickly  materialize.  Years  went  by,  the  king  became  interested  in  an 
United  South  Ship  Company  in  1629,  consequently  Usselinx  became 
discouraged,  withdrew  from  the  South  Company  and  started  afresh 
to  interest  all  Europe  in  his  schemes.  He  proposed  an  international 
mercantile  company,  then  a  Second  or  New  South  Company,  but  both 
were  doomed  to  failure. 

The  idea  started  by  Usselinx  did,  however,  mature,  but  later. 
Sweden  at  this  time  depended  for  her  prosperity  on  trade  in  copper. 
The  West  Indian  copper  trade  was  flourishing.  Two  Dutchmen, 
Bloomaert,  a  trader,  and  Minuit,  sometime  Governor  of  New  Nether- 
land,  proposed  to  Oxenstjerne,  the  Swedish  minister,  to  start  a  trading 
company  in  secret  opposition  to  the  West  Indian  Company,  which 
should  send  trading  expeditions  to  the  Delaware  and  other  parts  of 
America  under  the  Swedish  flag.  Two  schemes,  in  fact,  were  consid 
ered,  one  the  proposition  to  begin  trade  to  the  coast  of  Guinea  and  the 
other  a  project  to  found  a  New  Sweden  and  carry  on  trade  with  the 
Indians.  This  latter  plan  was  followed,  and  the  Company  founded  had 
in  prospect  colonization  of  the  coast  of  North  America  "from  Florida 
to  Terra  Nova"  (p.  102  The  Swedish  Settlements  on  the  Delaware). 
The  first  expedition,  however,  was  to  have  as  its  main  destination  the 
Delaware,  or  South  River.  The  company  was  financed  by  Bloomaert, 
Minuit  and  private  Swedish  stockholders,  and  was  to  have  certain 


IN  AMERICA  27 

privileges  granted  by  the  government,  that  is,  exclusive  right  to  trade 
on  the  Delaware  River  for  twenty  years,  that  all  articles  shipped  from 
Holland  for  trade  in  America  were  to  enter  duty  free  into  Sweden  and 
all  articles  from  America  likewise  to  be  free  for  a  period  of  years. 
The  profits  and  losses  were  shared  by  Bloomaert  and  Minuit,  and 
Minuit  was  chosen  to  lead  the  first  expedition. 

The  first  expedition  took  the  Nova  Scotia  route  according  to 
instructions  to  take  a  course  "behind  England  and  Scotland"  (p.  112 
The  Swedish  Settlements  on  the  Delaware)  and  to  cross  the  ocean 
about  the  forty-fourth  degree.  If  possible,  Minuit  was  to  take  posses 
sion  of  the  land  about  Halifax,  to  examine  the  advantages  foi  fur 
trade  and  colonization  and  to  plant  the  Swedish  flag  there.  After  that 
he  was  to  proceed  to  the  Delaware,  then  to  Florida  and  call  the  entire 
land  New  Sweden.  In  1638  the  voyage  of  the  "Kalmar  Nyckel"  took 
place.  Minuit  arrived  in  Delaware  Bay,  sailed  up  the  river  as  far  as 
the  Manquas  Kill,  and  not  finding  any  white  men,  entered  into  a  con 
tract  of  purchase  with  the  Indians. 

During  the  existence  of  the  colony,  1638-1655,  good  relations  were 
always  maintained  with  the  Indians.  With  them  the  Swedes  traded  in 
fur,  Indian  corn  and  tobacco.  Besides  this,  there  was  intercolonial 
trade  with  the  English  and  the  Dutch,  a  trade  which  eventually 
caused  the  termination  of  the  colony  in  1655,  when  the  Dutch  became 
masters.  Before  that  time  a  change  in  the  character  of  the  New  Sweden 
Company  took  place,  for  it  became  after  the  second  expedition,  wholly 
Swedish.  Money  difficulties  made  it  necessary  for  the  crown  to 
contribute  one-third,  the  old  South  Ship  Company  one-third  and 
private  stockholders  the  rest.  On  this  footing  the  company  pro 
ceeded,  having  the  same  commercial  agents  in  Holland  and  the  old 
charter  privileges.  A  new  Governor,  Ridder,  was  sent  in  1640,  another, 
Printz,  in  1643,  who  served  till  1653.  The  duties  of  the  Governor 
were  important,  for  it  was  a  strongly  centralized  power;  to  the  Gov 
ernor  belonged  all  administrative  duties;  he  had  to  keep  accounts,  also 
be  a  military  and  commercial  manager.  Courts  were  held.  Religion 
was  the  state  belief,  the  Swedish  Lutheran.  Ministers  were  sent  over 
by  the  consistory  at  home,  and  it  is  supposed  a  small  church  building 
was  erected  at  the  fort.  Log  houses,  farm  buildings  and  a  few  ships 
were  the  only  building  ventures  the  colonists  engaged  in.  Agriculture 


28  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A    SOCIAL   FORCE 

and  cattle  raising,   besides   trade,   were  the   most   important   industries. 

Trade  continued  the  raison  d'etre  of  the  colony.  Copper,  beaver 
and  tobacco"  were  the  main  articles.  The  English  in  New  Haven, 
observing  the  exceptional  position  of  the  Delaware  communities,  came 
to  investigate  in  1641.  They  found  the  country  sparsely  settled,  so 
lingered  to  do  trading  with  the  Indians  and  Swedes.  Antagonism  was 
felt  by  the  Swedes  toward  the  New  Haven  English  traders  in  spite  of 
the  fact  that  the  English  in  Virginia  and  Maryland  were  looked  upon 
as  friendly  neighbors.  Throughout  the  period  the  English  were,  how 
ever,  considered  much  more  foes  than  the  Dutch,  although  as  1645 
approached  relations  with  the  Dutch,  friendly  at  first,  then  alternately 
hostile  and  friendly,  turned  sharply  hostile  in  1654.  Printz,  the 
Governor  at  New  Sweden,  not  being  a  military  man,  did  not  see  the 
significance  of  Dutch  encroachment.  A  fort  was  built  below  the 
Swedish  fort  on  the  river  and  Dutch  arrogance  increased  steadily,  till 
the  sudden  siege  of  Fort  Christina  proved  the  latent  strength  of  the 
Dutch  under  Peter  Stuyvesant  and  the  relative  weakness  of  the  Swedes 
under  Printz.  With  the  fall  of  the  fort  ended  New  Sweden  as  a  Swedish 
colony,  the  officers  returned  to  Europe,  while  most  of  the  settlers  swore 
oaths  of  allegiance  to  Holland.  The  reports  of  the  officers  when 
delivered  at  home  brought  about  renewed  interest  in  colonial  Sweden 
and  the  recent  negligence  of  the  court  and  people  was  turned  to 
enthusiasm  to  win  back  New  Sweden.  The  formation  of  a  new  com 
pany  called  "The  American  Company,"  and  a  few  more  expeditions 
were  the  only  results,  however,  for  with  the  capture  of  New  Amster 
dam  by  the  English  in  1665  ended  all  hope  of  Sweden  winning  back 
her  colony. 

In  Norway,  in  1816,  a  Quaker  society  was  formed  at  Stavanger 
by  Larson,  Tastad  and  Hille,  three  Norwegians,  who  as  prisoners  of 
Napoleon,  on  being  taken  to  England,  had  joined  the  Quaker  faith  and 
returned  to  propagate  it  in  their  home  country.  To  their  efforts  and 
those  of  Kleng  Peerson  and  Knud  Olson  Eide  may  be  given  the  credit 
of  forming  the  first  Norwegian  settlements  in  America,  for  Peerson 
and  Eide,  conceiving  that  America  would  be  an  acceptable  place  in 
which  to  practice  Quakerism  unmolested,  came  to  New  York  in  1821 
to  investigate.  On  their  return  Lars  Larson  organized  a  party  to  sail 
on  the  "Restaurationen"  to  America  in  1825.  It  was  this  party  which 


IN  AMERICA  29 

heralded  the  beginnings  of  Norwegian  immigration  to  the  United 
States.  In  1825  the  fifty-two  Quakers  arrived,  were  welcomed  by 
their  brothers  of  the  faith  in  New  York  City,  and  provided  with  money 
with  which  to  journey  to  Kendall,  a  portion  of  land  in  Orleans  County, 
New  York.  There  they  took  up  the  land  in  a  body,  paid  for  it  in 
installments,  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  worshipping  according  to  their 
ideas  and  cheerfully  endured  the  necessary  hardship  of  pioneer  living. 

By  1836  more  Norwegians  were  ready  to  migrate  to  America, 
two  Kohler  brigs  were  fitted  out,  the  "Norden"  and  "Den  Norske 
Klippe."  By  those  ships  150  to  200  more  settlers  arrived  in  this 
country,  but  these,  instead  of  joining  their  friends  at  Kendall,  per 
suaded  some  of  the  Kendall  settlers,  among  them  Kleng  Peerson,  the 
leader,  to  go  westward  and  found  a  settlement  at  Fox  River,  La  Salle 
County,  Illinois.  This  Fox  River  settlement  opens  up  a  significant 
period  in  Scandinavian  American  history,  for  it  inaugurated  the  era  of 
west  and  northwest  settlements.  From  1836  down  to  the  present  day 
Scandinavians  came  to  be  associated  also  solely  witlrlhe ""Northwest, 
arid  it  is  there  that  their  history  is  followed.  Proof  of  this  fact  depends 
upon  tKe  reports  of  definite  settlements  in  certain  states.  Statistics  are 
unreliable  for  any  decades  before  1870.  Norwegian,  Danish  and 
Swedish  figures  are  given  for  immigrants  coming  in  certain  years,  but 
no  statistical  table  of  the  Scandinavian  grouping  can  be  arranged  for 
this,  what  is  called  the  intermediate  period  of  Scandinavian  American 
history.  Consequently,  the  only  course  is  to  follow  the  founding  of 
individual  settlements,  to  determine  what  states  attracted  the  Scandi 
navians  and  to  define  the  larger  issues  affecting  their  movements  in 
America. 

A  glance  at  a  map  of  the  United  States  for  the  period  1800-1870 
would  show  that  of  the  states  containing  Scandinavian  settlements,  with 
the  exception  of  New  York,  Florida,  Texas,  Utah,  California  and 
Idaho,  all  settlements  fall  within  the  group  of  states  Illinois,  Michigan, 
Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  Iowa,  Kansas  and  the  Dakotas.  This  is 
Northwest  territory,  a  vast  region  whose  history  had  begun  in  the  days 
when  Indian  canoes  swept  down  the  big  rivers  and  French  explorers 
tried  its  forests.  Hardly  can  settlement  be  said  to  have  begun  for  the 
French,  Champlain,  Nicolet,  Claude  Allouez  and  La  Salle  were  explor 
ers,  not  colonizers.  They  tracked  a  pathless  wilderness  which  was  to 


30  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

remain  French,  and  French-Indian  till  the  English  occupation  in  1761, 
but  their  stay  was  only  temporary.  By  1785-90  during  the  English 
occupation,  more  definite  knowledge  was  gained  of  this  region,  bound 
aries  were  indicated  by  the  Ohio,  Mississippi  and  the  Great  Lakes. 
Detroit  stood  the  keypoint  of  all  this  vast  French-English  region  till 
the  end  of  the  War  of  1812  saw  the  possession  become  wholly 
American. 

Into  this  new  region  came  the  Scandinavians  when  in  1836  the 
Norwegians  settled  at  Fox  River.  Relatives  and  friends  soon  followed 
and  took  up  what  they  considered  to  be  better  land  in  La  Salle  and 
Boone  counties  in  1839.  Rock,  Racine,  Dane  and  Walworth  counties 
in  Wisconsin  were  entered  in  1838-40.  A  Swedish  colony  appeared  at 
Adrian,  in  Michigan,  while  Washington,  Goodhue  and  Carver  counties 
started  Swedish  history  in  Minnesota.  1863  saw  the  beginnings  of 
Kansas  history;  Scandinavians,  attracted  by  the  Homestead  Act  of 
1862,  and  the  Galesburg  Colonization  Company,  filled  the  central  part 
of  the  state  in  Saline  and  McPherson  counties,  while  Sugar  Creek  and 
New  Sweden  sprang  into  existence  in  Iowa.  Railroads  were  extended 
into  North  Dakota  in  1872,  Fargo  became  a  terminus  to  be  reached  by 
immigrants,  thereby  settling  Cass,  Griggs,  Walsh  trail  and  Richland 
counties.  Numerous  as  are  the  settlements,  the  facts  attending  their 
origin  and  development  are  much  the  same.  Each  one  initiated  by  a 
leader,  accepted  pioneer  conditions,  broke  ground,  farmed  and  in  most 
cases  prospered.  Illinois,  possessing  Chicago,  was  the  natural  point  of 
contact  with  the  East.  To  Chicago  came  the  trainloads  of  immigrants. 
Railroad  development  in  Illinois  1850-1870  naturally  scattered  them 
through  the  state;  a  propitious  climate,  rich  soil  and  good  situation  also 
kept  many  Scandinavians  in  this  state.  Religion  characterized  trie 
cultural  aspects  of  the  settlements.  Mormonism  made  itself  felt  in 
1840,  for  at  Nauvoo,  the  Mormon  colony  attracted  the  attention  and 
reproof  of  the  state  authorities.  Michigan  with  her  great  forests  and 
splendid  virginal  condition  called  to  the  Scandinavian  farmer;  Detroit 
the  key  to  the  Northwest  region  in  early  days,  now  opened  up  a  territory 
rich  in  resources  to  the  hardy  immigrant.  Wisconsin,  easy  of  access  by 
means  of  the  Mississippi  River,  early  became  a  goal  to  Scandinavian 
newcomers,  for  this  state  became  popular,  especially  through  advertise 
ment  in  foreign  newspapers.  From  Chicago  and  the  Illinois  settlements 


IN  AMERICA  31 

the  arrivals  advanced,  at  first  by  boat  or  stage,  to  the  larger  regions  of 
the  northern  states,  Winconsin  and  Minnesota,  destined  later  to  rank 
very  highly  as  populous  Scandinavian  States.  Meanwhile,  across  the 
river  from  Nauvoo,  Illinois,  there  sprang  up  settlements  at  Sugar  Creek 
and  around  Rock  Island.  Westward  through  this  state  -of  Iowa  the 
trail  of  the  Northmen  also  led  to  Central  Kansas,  where  railroad  rates 
and  land  values  were  the  attraction  as  in  the  contiguous  territory  of 
the  Dakotas.  In  fact,  the  Scandinavian,  colonizing  this  district  so 
thoroughly,  became  known  as  a  considerable  developing  agent,  ranking 
second  (1860)  in  size  of  alien  race  to  cultivate  the  great  Northwest. 

The  attitude  of  the  American  government  and  the  railroads  had 
much  to  do  with  the  Scandinavian  settling  of  the  Northwest.  The 
Homestead  Act  of  1862  emphasizes  conditions  which  always  attract 
pioneers,  the  expectation  of  finding  cheap  land  under  government  pro 
tection,  and  the  surety  of  experiencing  society  and  politics  in  a  forma 
tive  stage.  The  railroads  in  the  two  decades  of  1860-1880,  encouraged 
this  expectation,  for  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  Company  and  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railway  made  rates  offering  special  terms  to  homestead 
.seekers.  The  "First  Swedish  Agriculture  Company"  of  1860  offers 
an  example  of  this  kind,  for  in  that  year  the  Union  Pacific  Railway 
entered  into  agreement  with  the  First  Swedish  Agriculture  Company 
of  McPherson  Country,  Kansas,  reducing  railroad  rates  and  land 
purchases.  The  establishment  of  the  Galesburg  Colonization  Company 
likewise  depended  for  its  success  on  a  bargain  with  the  Kansas  Pacific 
Railroad  Company,  while  the  settlement  of  North  Dakota  is  mainly 
attributed  to  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway  Company. 

Religion  is  closely  connected  with  the  movement  of  Scandinavians 
for  the  period  considered.  In  America  the  Norwegians  particularly 
observed  close  allegiance  to  the  State  Lutheran  Church.  Just  so 
soon  as  a  settlement  originated  religious  cohesion  to  the  national  form 
of  worship  was  demonstrated.  The  Norwegians  had  a  national 
Church  in  1844  when  only  12,000  Norwegians  were  in  this  country, 
while  before  this  there  were  local  congregations  and  ministers.  The 
growth  of  church  buildings  and  enlargement  of  church  organization 
kept  pace  steadily  with  the  increase  in  immigration.  Among  the  Swedes, 
although  in  the^  main  very  loyal  to  state  worship,  greater  diversity  of 
sects  were  to  ££  found.  After  1850  many  Swedish  Methodists,  Swedish 


32  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

Baptist  and  Mission  Friend  churches  located  in  various  settlements. 
The  Danes  favored  numerous  denominations,  Baptist,  Presbyterian, 
Adventist  and  Unitarian.  Not  till  after  1870  with  30,000  Danes  in 
the  United  States,  was  there  a  purely  Danish  American  Church  with 
a  minister.  Of  most  interest  in  Danish  American  Church  history  is  the 
introduction  in  1869  of  Gruntvigian  ideas,  propagated  by  a  Grunt- 
vigian  Society  in  Denmark.  This  Society  advocated  the  practical 
side  of  Christianity  and  protested,  as  did  its  originator,  the  reformer 
and  exhorter,  Nicolai  Gruntvig,  against  the  rationalistic  tendency 
in  the  state  church.  Mormonism  likewise  had  a  radical  influence  on 
Danes  in  America.  Joseph  Smith,  born  1827  in  New  York  State, 
started  a  Mormon  settlement  in  Missouri.  Driven  out  of  that  State 
by  the  governor's  orders,  he  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  Nauvoo 
in  Illinois  in  1840,  but  was  not  able  to  remain  there  after  1846,  for, 
becoming  bold  and  introducing  polygamy,  he  was  required  by  the 
State  to  remove  the  colony  in  that  year.  Meanwhile  before  the 
definite  removal  to  Utah  an  experiment  was  tried  at  White  River, 
Walworth  County,  Wisconsin.  After  Smith's  death  and  the  assumption 
of  leadership  by  Young,  this  wing  of  the  party  also  removed  to 
Utah.  To  the  Mormon  Church  there  flocked  many  Danes,  especially 
in  the  years  1850-60,  for  Rasmus  Sorensen  in  Denmark  worked 
upon  the  excitable  sympathies  of  the  people  to  induce  Mormon 
emigration.  From  1861  to  1868  of  the  9,362  Danish  emigrants, 
2,500  were  Danish  Mormons.  From  the  Fox  River  Settlement  many 
Norwegians  likewise  joined  the  Mormons,  especially  at  Lamoni, 
a  place  near  Nauvoo,  where  the  Mormons  did  not  practice  polygany, 
and  with  them  later  moved  to  Utah. 

After  1870  the  history  of  Scandinavian  immigration  is  best  traced 
by  statistics  and  in  considering  three  decades,  1880,  1890  and  1900, 
certain  points  are  to  be  observed.  The  movement  of  immigration  is 
from  the  East  to  the  Northwest  and  Westwards.  The  Northwest 
section  of  the  United  States  always  maintains  a  position  far  ahead 
of  other  sections  of  the  country.  Besides  this  Northwest  movement, 
which  is  indicated  by  statistics  of  foreign  born  Scandinavians,  there 
is  an  enlargement  of  the  foreign  element  marked  by  the  increase  in 
the  United  States  groups  which  is  indicated  by  statistics  of  the 
foreign  born  and  native  born  of  foreign  parentage.  This  movement 


IN  AMERICA  33 

and  relative  increase  of  the  foreign  element  in  the  groups  are  the 
dominant  features  in  later  immigration  history. 

In  1880  about  439,210  Scandinavians  came  to  the  United  States, 
of  these  1.4%  or  6,149  went  to  the  southern  states,  10%  or  43,921  to 
the  eastern,  11.6%  or  50,948  to  the  western,  and  77%  or  338,192  to 
the  northwestern.  This  shows  the  position  of  the  northwest  group  in 
which  are  included  the  States  of  Illinois,  Michigan,  Minnesota, 
Wisconsin,  Iowa,  the  Dakotas  and  Nebraska.  By  1890  the  Scandi 
navian  immigration  tide  reached  10,995  in  the  southern  group.  128,761 
in  the  eastern,  123,345  in  the  western  and  in  the  northwestern  670,148. 
In  the  following  decade  1900  the  figures  rose  to  15,273  for  the 
southern,  188,371  for  the  eastern,  143,442  for  the  western  and 
715,121  for  the  northwestern.  Thus  it  is  seen  that  during  the 
three  decades  the  movement  of  immigration  had  changed,  although 
very  slightly  for  the  northwest  group  holding  77%  of  immigration  in 
1880  shrank  to  67.3%  in  1900,  while  the  western  group  enlarged 
itself  from  11.6%  in  1880  to  13.4%  in  1900,  and  the  eastern  group 
10%  in  1880,  reached  17.7%  in  1900.  This  is  significant  in  showing 
that  while  there  is  a  steady  maintenance  of  first  position  by  the 
northwest  group,  there  is  later  a  tendency  on  the  part  of  incoming 
Scandinavians  to  remain  in  the  east  and  also  to  go  far  west. 

Before  considering  further  the  movement  of  the  incoming  immi 
grants,  a  glance  at  the  increase  by  decades  of  the  groups,  discloses 
a  similar  conclusion  as  to  the  maintenance  of  first  position  by  the 
northwest  group  and  the  slight  gain  in  percentage  of  foreign  elements 
in  the  east  and  west  in  1890  and  1900.  Of  all  the  Scandinavians 
in  America  in  1890,  that  is,  foreign  born  and  native  born  of  foreign 
parentage,  73%  or  1,816,541  were  in  the  northwest  group,  12.7%  or 
314,765  were  in  the  eastern,  12.7%  or  313,750  were  in  the  western 
and  1.2%  or  29,990  were  in  the  southern.  In  1900  70%  or  2,226,107 
were  in  the  northwestern  group,  13%  or  425,039  in  the  western,  15% 
or  496,388  in  the  eastern  and  1.5%  or  48,798  were  in  the  southern. 
This  discloses  the  phenomenon  of  a  slight  decrease  in  the  north 
west,  73%  to  70%  and  an  increase  in  the  west  12.7%  to  13%  and  in 
the  east  12.7%  to  15%,  a  conclusion  which  was  reached  above  when 
considering  the  newly  arriving  emigrants. 

From    the    percentages    quoted    it    may    easily    be    observed    that 


34  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

the  northwest  group  always  greatly  outdistances  the  other  groups, 
and  of  this  northwest  group,  Minnesota  is  found  to  take  the  lead 
in  rank  of  the  Scandinavian  States.  In  1890  Minnesota  had  588,250 
Scandinavians  to  Illinois'  326,044;  Wisconsin  had  284,350  to  Iowa's 
210,106  to  the  Dakota's  183,800,  Nebraska's  122,923  and  Michigan's 
101,068.  In  1900  Minnesota  still  led,  the  others'  distributions  being 
Minnesota  with  753,514  Scandinavians,  Illinois  with  432,075,  Wisconsin 
with  341,659,  the  Dakotas  with  248,590,  Iowa  with  244,507,  Nebraska 
with  128,054  and  Michigan  last  with  117,708.  In  1900  Minnesota  had 
23%  of  all  the  Scandinavians  in  the  United  States  or  43%  of  the 
State  population  was  Scandinavian.  In  all  periods  for  total  Scandi 
navians  Minnesota  persistently  contains  one-third,  thereby  establish 
ing  her  position  as  head  of  the  northwest  group. 

But  while  the  Scandinavian  element  is  mainly  to  be  found  in 
the  northwest  group,  there  is  no  denying  that  there  has  been  a  move 
ment  to  Montana,  Wyoming,  Colorado,  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  Utah, 
Idaho,  Nevada,  Washington,  Oregon  and  California.  This  movement 
westward  was  scattering  in  the  midst  of  a  large  group  and  while 
the  increases  for  the  group  from  1880  to  1900  was  186%  the  lines 
of  march  appears  to  be  west,  northwest. 

The  States  which  led  in  the  increases  were  Washington,  Cali 
fornia,  Colorado,  Montana,  Oregon  and  Utah  in  the  order  mentioned, 
for  of  the  92,949  increase,  Washington  led  with  24,730,  California 
followed  with  18,927,  Colorado  with  10,931,  Montana  with  9,741, 
Oregon  with  7,065  and  Utah  with  5,530.  In  this  westward  move 
ment  it  is  interesting  to  notice  the  relatively  small  increase  of  the 
State  of  Kansas,  prominent  in  the  history  of  the  earlier  period  but 
which  in  the  period  1880-1900  increased  only  50,764  as  against  the 
73,979  increase  in  two  decades  of  the  adjoining  State  of  Nebraska, 
similar  in  conditions  of  climate  and  soil. 

The  immigration  line  of  direction  on  the  whole  was  west, 
northwest.  History  for  1800-1870  likewise  emphasizes  a  west,  north 
west  direction. 

These  two  facts  characterize  the  whole  Scandinavian  movement 
in  America.  It  was  a  northwest  movement  pre-eminently ;  a  fact 
interesting  in  the  psychology  of  races  in  that  it  expresses  the  uncon- 


IN  AMERICA  35 

scious  impulse  of  a  migrating  race  to  seek  similarity  of  latitudinal 
position.  Scandinavia  is  a.  northwest  country  of  Europe,  therefore  when 
immigration  to  the  United  States  takes  place,  it  seeks  the  north 
west  portion  of  the  latter  country.  Thus  Sacndinavian  racial  charac 
teristics  of  industriousness,  .simplicity,  obedience  to  law,  integrity  _and 
chivalrousness  have  been  convened  into  a  certain  group  of  American 
states.  What  impress  they  make  socially,  politically  and  economi 
cally  will  subsequently  be  seen. 


I    is***' 


CHAPTER  IV. 

SCANDINAVIANS  IN  AMERICA  CONSIDERED  AS  A  POTENTIAL  OR  LATENT 

FORCE. 

We  have  considered  the  arriving  and  the  distribution  of  the 
Scandinavian  immigrants.  In  this  chapter  it  is  our  purpose  to 
review  what  they  do  rather  than  to  trace  the  influence  of  their 
acts.  Hence  the  subject:  Scandinavians  in  America  as  a  potential 
or  latent  force.  Enough  has  been  said  to  show  that  wherever  they 
have  settled,  their  "foot-prints  on  the  sands  of  time"  are  seen.  Few 
countries  in  Europe  fail  to  show  their  imprints.  Can  this  race  come  to 
our  country  in  such  a  large  number  and  fail  to  be  a  factor  in  our 
national  life?  To  suppose  this,  is  impossible  and  contrary  to 
historical  facts.  Their  influence  is,  and  will  be  a  force  that  can 
never  be  eliminated.  American  history  has  already  written  many 
of  their  deeds  indelibly  upon  its  pages ;  i.  e.,  John  Ericksen  and 
his  Monitor  formed  a  turning  point  in  the  Civil  War,  and  revolu 
tionized  war;  the  late  John  A.  Johnsen,  Governor  of  Minnesota,  was 
a  true  American  and  an  exponent  of  our  highest  ideals ;  Honorable 
Knut  Nelson  has  proved  himself  a  conservative,  yet  progressive 
statesman  of  our  country. 

That  race  which  the  most  readily  and  completely  merges  with 
the  people  of  the  new  country  will  give  more  and  receive  more  of 
the  characteristics  peculiar  to  the  two  races.  The  importance  of 
the  similarity  and  the  dis-similarity  of  the  two  races  must  not  be 
overlooked,  as  the  more  nearly  these  are  alike,  the  more  easily  will 
they  act  reciprocally  and  lose  less  energy  in  futile  or  vain  striving. 
History  amply  substantiates  that  Scandinavians  readily  amalgamate, 
and  that  the  cultural  differences  of  the  Scandinavians  and  Americans 
are  not  extremes  is  also  well  known,  hence  in  their  absence  we 
have  good  reasons  why  the  Scandinavians  should  persist  in  culti 
vating  their  peculiarly  national  characteristics. 

36 


IN  AMERICA  37 

The  oft-quoted  phrase  "United  we  stand,  divided  we  fall,"  could 
be  appropriately  applied  if  all  the  races  that  have  come  to  America 
should  continue  as  miniature  countries  from  whence  they  emigrated — 
wars  without  end  would  result.  The  making  of  a  new  nation  would 
be  impossible.  The  improvement  of  the  race  would  be  greatly  retarded 
— the  system  preventing  the  infusion  of  new  blood  and  the  devastating 
effect  of  wars  would  soon  be  manifest ;  e.  g.,  the  loss  of  the  best  men, 
and  destruction  of  property. 

England  formerly,  America  now,  show  how  a  new  nation  is  made 
from  many  nationalities.  The  two  countries  mentioned  amply  substantiate 
the  result,  since  they  are  the  strongest  nations  the  world  has  ever 
known.  Hence  in  America  a  complete  process  of  merging  will 
improve  our  nation.  The  two  sides  of  this  question  will  be  con 
sidered  in  this  chapter.  From  the  above  it  is  evident  that  ultimate 
Americanization  is  desirable  and  necessary,  both  for  the  immi 
grant  and  the  nation;  united  they  will  progress,  divided  they  will  fight. 
To  what  extent  have  the  Scandinavians  mixed  with  the  American 
people?  TWTO  answers  may  be  given.  If  we  consider  the  early  arrivals, 
not  emigrants,  as  the  Swedes  on  the  Delaware,  and  others  who 
may  have  been  here  for  a  long  time,  the  mixing  is  quite  complete. 
Only  a  few  racial  traits  remain  as  characteristics  of  a  foreign  race. 

Where,  however,  the  immigrants  have  arrived  later,  and  the  oppor 
tunities  for  mixing  are  less  favorable,  the  process  of  Americani 
zation  is  much  slower.  Another  more  general  factor  is  the  readiness 
with  which  some  nationalities  amalgamate.  A  glance  at  our  nation 
readily  shows  that  certain  races  do  so  with  difficulty  and  others 
remain  a  separate  people  forming  a  part  of  the  nation ;  e.  g.,  the 
more  recent  arrival  of  Hebrews,  Negroes,  Japanese  and  Chinamen. 
Such  separating  characteristics  are  found  in  every  nation,  large  or 
small,  and  is  especially  evident  in  Norway.  This  is  particularly 
true  of  what  is  termed  "Easterners,"  their  mental  and  physical 
traits  are  quite  different  from  the  "Westerners,"  the  "Easterners"  being 
distinctly  of  the  dolichocephalic — long  headed  type;  while  the  "West 
erners"  have  strong  tendencies  to  the  brachycephalic — broad  headed 
type.  "Not  only  are  the  broad-headed  coast  districts  darker  as  a 
whole;  in  them  the  brachycephalic  individuals  actually  tend  to  be 
darker  than  the  other  types,  as  Arbo  has  clearly  shown.  Finally, 


38  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

while,  as  our  map  of  stature  indicates,  the  population  of  this  south 
western  corner  of  Norway  is  not  distinctly  shorter  than  the  remainder 
of  the  country,  nevertheless,  in  this  region  the  broadest-headed  types 
incline  to  shortness  of  stature.  In  temperament  these  people,  un- 
Teutonic  in  all  of  the  ways  we  have  described,  are  also  peculiar. 
They  seem  to  be  more  emotional,  loquacious  and  susceptible  to  leadership, 
in  contradistinction  to  the  stolid,  reserved  and  independent  Teutons." 
(The  Races  of  Europe  by  Ripley,  p.  208.)  Similar  peculiarities  are 
found  in  Sweden,  especially  north  of  Jemtland  and  Helsinge  where 
the  dark,  broad-headed  and  short  type  predominates.  Such  charac 
teristics  cannot  be  eliminated  completely  in  the  new  country. 

On  the  basis  of  what  has  been  said,  we  may  ask :  Is  amalgamation 
possible  only  by  uniformity,  or  may  habits  and  peculiarities  be  retained? 
No  nation  is  a  perfect  unity  without  variation,  and  if,  according  to 
Dr.  Binder,  variation  is  necessary  to  progress,  the  answer  must  be, 
Unity  yet  Variety ;  otherwise  a  nation  would  stagnate ;  continuing  the 
same  reasoning,  the  nation  with  the  greatest  variety  will  progress 
the  most  rapidly.  Concluding,  an  absolute  uniformity  is  not  neces 
sary  nor  desirable  to  national  welfare. 

The  extent  of  variety  is  best  seen  in  the  customs  and  languages 
as  retained  by  the  immigrants.  When  traveling  through  our  country, 
we  cannot  fail  to  notice  the  peculiarities  of  the  various  localities  as 
these  may  be  Scandinavian,  German,  Russian,  or  any  other  nationality 
represented.  In  spite  of  these  peculiarities,  the  people  are  generally 
good  and  loyal  Americans,  ready  and  willing  at  any  time,  if  duty 
should  call,  to  march  to  battle  for  the  defence  of  their  adopted  country. 

As  a  national  custom  of  Scandinavians,  their  sports  may  be 
mentioned  first.  These  have  been  practiced  for  generations  in  their 
adopted  land,  for  skieing  with  high  jumps,  rowing,  swimming  and 
"turning"  in  its  various  branches  appears  to  be  their  second  nature. 
Mountains,  valleys  and  fjords  have  for  centuries  been  national  factors 
in  the  making  of  the  Scandinavians.  Their  national  dish  is  long 
maintained, — fladbrod,  sylte,  ludefisk,  grod,  and  many  others  too  numer 
ous  to  mention,  are  evident  for  generations.  As  a  result  of  this,  the 
various  Scandinavian  institutions  throughout  our  country  set  two 
tables,  one  being  for  Americans,  as  they  do  not  as  a  rule  find  the 
national  dish  of  the  Scandinavians  palatable. 


IN  AMERICA  39 

Chorbus  singing  is  another  Scandinavian  national  characteristic.  As 
a  consequence  we  find  a  very  large  number  in  Greater  New  York 
and  throughout  the  country.  Young  men  of  the  second  and  third 
generation  will  often  endeavor  to  learn  Scandinavian,  if  for  no 
other  reason  than  that  they  might  join  the  " Chorus,"  their  songs  as 
a  rule  being  national  in  character.  Each  nationality  is  represented  in 
its  "Sangerforbund"  as  the  Norske,  Svenske  and  Danske  "national 
sangerforbund."  A  Scandinavian  forbund  comprising  representatives 
from  the  three  nations  existed  for  a  few  years,  but  soon  dissolved 
because  of  jealousy. 

The  retention  of  their  languages  is  not  the  strongest  feature 
of  the  Scandinavians.'  The  rapid  loss  of  their  language  reduces  their 
influence,  and  our  American  nation  thus  fails  to  receive  from  them 
what  lies  imbedded  in  the  language  of  the  country,  as  culture,  litera- 
tuie  and  art.  Their  efficiency,  likewise,  is  reduced  by  the  loss 
of  one  language.  This  rapid  loss  is  especially  noticeable  in  cities  ; 
and  districts  where  the  immigrant  comes  in  contact  with  Americans 
or  other  nationalities.  Where,  however,  the  district  is  exclusively  , 
Scandinavian,  and  the  settlers  are  established  in  their  own  custom, 
the  people  will  remain  quite  thorough  foreigners  for  generations,  as 
in  Goodhus,  Filmore  and  Lac  Qui  Parle,  counties  in  Minnesota. 

Generally  speaking,  the  Scandinavians  A.mericanize  tqo  rapidly. 
This  Is  also  evident  to  TrTemselves,  hence  the  many  means  taken  to 
keep  them  true  to  their  national  traits  and  customs.  A  powerful 
means  is  the  parochial  schools,  under  the  supervision  of  their  Church 
organizations.  They  have  several  teachers'  seminaries  and  normal 
schools  for  the  preparation  of  teachers.  These  schools  have  a 
double  purpose,  the  first  is  to  teach  the  principles  of  religion,  since 
the  Scandinavian  countries  are  very  thorough  in  their  religous 
instruction,  even  including  considerable  dogmatics,  and  as  a  large 
majority  are  Lutheran,  three  books  must  be  committed  to  memory; 
viz,  Luther's  Catechism,  Pontoppidan's  Explanation  or  Epitomy,  and 
a  condensed  Bible  History  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament.  The  above 
course  is  good  training  for  the  young  mind.  Another  purpose  for 
which  the  parochial  school  is  used,  is  to  teach  the  foreign  language 
to  their  children.  This  is  an  unpedagogical  procedure,  as  books  intend 
ed  for  the  instruction  of  religion  are  not  usually  adapted  for  text 


40  SCANDINAVIANS  AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

books  from  which  to  teach  foreign  languages.  "Confirmation"  is 
an  act  that  indicates  completion  of  the  religious  instruction.  If  young 
people  are  not  to  be  considered  "black  sheep"  they  must  be  "confirmed." 
Parents  often  say  they  want  their  children  confirmed,  as  they  want 
them  to  "learn  Norwegian."  Thus  we  note  the  perverted  purpose  to 
which  this  sacred  act  is  subjected  by  some. 

National  Societies.  These  are  all  organized  to  counteract  Amer 
ican  influence,  and  bitterly  do  many  of  them  bewail  any  mark  of  the 
American  stamp;  a  member  who  might  thus  be  affected  would  at 
once  be  considered  as  having  dishonored  the  good  name  of  his  native 
country.  It  is  evident  that  such  societies  cannot  have  a  large  nor 
a  parmanent  membership,  their  narrowness  forbids  it,  the  Scandinavian 
nature  soon  rebels  against  such  bonds,  and  American  influence 
lends  a  helping  and  relieving  hand.  If  these  societies  were  to  be  judged 
by  their  "noise,"  they  would  indeed  be  considered  powerful.  The 
majority  of  them  represent  extremes,  and  as  extremes  are  generally 
bad,  they  cannot  accomplish  much  beyond  a  national  parade,  and 
a  dance  once  or  twice  a  year.  The  explanation  for  the  above  is  found 
in  the  fact  that  they  are  nearly  exclusively  composed  of  members  who 
have  lately  arrived,  and  whose  one  aim  and  purpose  is  to  show 
America  "how  to  do  things."  This  may  be  necessary,  but  usually  they 
are  shown  first,  or  disappear.  The  Danes  seem  to  lead  the  other 
Scandinavians  in  this  class  of  Societies.  They  have  three  national 
bodies  in  America,  the  Danish  Brotherhood  in  America,  The  United 
Danish  Societies  in  America,  and  the  Association  of  Danish  people  in 
America.  The  last  is  an  exception  to  the  class  mentioned  and  dates 
its  b^rth  from  the  year  1887;  it  is  the  result  of  the  efforts  of  Rev.  F.  L. 
Gruntvig,  and  its  principal  aims  are  to  perpetuate  the  spiritual  inherit 
ance  of  Denmark,  and  to  preserve  the  language  of  that  country  without 
neglecting  the  duties  of  American  citizenship.  Their  rules  read,  "Men 
and  Women  who  feel  as  if  they  were  Danes,  and  are  not  hostile  to  the 
Christian  Church  can  become  members  on  equal  terms."  (History  of 
the  Scandinavians  in  the  U.  S.,  Vol  II.,  p.  47,  by  O.  Nelson.)  There 
are  several  other  societies  classed  as  national,  but  which  arc  in 
reality  American  Scanidnavian  Societies.  Their  purpose  is  to  give 
to  America  the  best  that  the  immigrants  have  brought,  and  to 
induce  the  American  Scandinavian  to  retain  as  a  most  valuable 


IN  AMERICA  41 

heritage,  the  culture  of  his  native  land;  when  this  has  been  "toned"  in 
the  American  culture  and  made  a  part  of  it,  the  immigrant  and 
America  have  both  improved,  reciprocally  they  have  given  their 
best.  The  membership  of  this  class  of  societies  is  generally  composed 
of  Scandinavians  of  the  second  and  third  generations,  men  of  edu 
cation  and  influence,  politically,  socially  and  otherwise. 

The  Scandinavian  Press  is  a  factor  the  politician  reckons  with, 
as,  like  the  Irishman,  the  Scandinavian  is  a  born  politician.  The 
Scandinavian  press  exerts  an  immense  influence.  It  aims  to  be 
impartial,  politically  independent,  but  is  often  found  to  favor  special 
candidates  and  parties  so  openly  that  the  effect  of  the  "almighty 
dollar"  is  quite  evident.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  the 
press  is  thus  "for  sale,"  as  its  readers  are  largely  guided  by  its 
advice,  many  of  them  are  unable  to  read  the  American  press  and 
literature,  and  hence  are  forced  to  depend  on  their  own  Scandinavian 
publications  for  information.  In  justice  to  all  papers,  it  must  be  said 
that  many  are  absolutely  independent  and  disseminate  truthful  informa 
tion  regarding  the  issue  of  the  day.  The  press,  like  the  societies,  may 
be  divided  into  the  sacred  and  the  secular.  The  different  Church 
organizations  of  the  three  nationalities  have  their  own  papers,  these 
are  respectfully  known  as  their  "official  organ."  They  also  publish 
special  papers  in  the  interest  of  missions,  Sunday  Schools,  and  for 
the  young  people,  the  latter  appearing  in  the  American  language. 
With  a  few  exceptions,  the  papers  are  well  and  ably  edited  and 
exercise  a  wholesome  influence  upon  their  readers. 

It  is  to  be  remembered  that  the  Scandinavian  press,  especially 
the  secular,  is  mindful  of  the  fact  that  it  appears  in  a  foreign 
language,  and  hence  is  a  strong  factor  for  the  preservation  of  that 
particular  language.  This  result  of  selfishness,  however,  does  not 
detract  from  its  general  usefulness  and  efficiency. 

The  aggregated  average  circulation  per  issue — daily,  Sunday,  weekly, 
semi-weekly,  tri-weekly,  and  others  were  1,149,619  in  1904;  and  1,118,- 
601  in  1909,  a  loss  of  three  per  cent.  The  decrease  in  number  was 
from  162  in  1904  to  161  in  1909.  (From  Norwegian  American,  pub 
lished  January  4th  1912  at  Northfield,  Minnesota.) 

The  last  of  the  means  to  be  considered  for  the  retention  of 
Scandinavian  traits  is  the  teaching  of  their  languages  in  the  public 


J 


42  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

schools  and  universities.  This  factor  comes  near  home  to  every 
American  as  he  is  brought  in  direct  contact  with  their  language 
and  literature.  In  several  of  the  universities  of  the  middle  west 
plays  from  Scandinavian  authors  have  been  given,  and  a  thorough 
study  is  made  of  their  writings  by  Scandinavian  and  American 
students.  During  the  last  few  years  great  activity  has  aroused 
special  interest  in  these  languages,  and  nearly  all  cities  in  Scandinavian 
centers  have  made  Norwegian,  Swedish  and  Danish  a  part  of  the 
regular  high  school  course.  In  their  efforts  to  obtain  this  privilege, 
the  Scandinavians  received  the  loyal  support  of  the  foremost  American 
educators  in  their  various  states,  a  fact  that  is  much  appreciated. 
This  effort  to  bring  the  language  and  literature  into  our  American 
schools  is  the  most  legitimate  manner  in  which  to  establish  Scandi 
navian  culture  as  a  permanent  addition  to  American  culture,  and 
through  the  national  sifting  process,  that  which  is  most  needed 
and  best,  will  be  retained.  It  is  worthy  of  notice,  that  this  effort  is 
largely  promulgated  by  the  Americanized  Scandinavians,  who  with 
difficulty  can  speak  the  Scandinavian  tongue.  It  appears  evident  that 
they  are  aware  of  their  loss  and  anxious  to  have  re-established  the 
opportunity  for  their  posterity. 

We  have  thus  far  considered  only  the — anti-Americanizing  factors ; 
but  many  and  more  pro-Americanizing  factors  may  be  mentioned. 
Their  potency  is  great,  and  every  immigrant  bows  more  or  less,  sooner 
or  later,  to  their  influence.  To  enumerate  them  is  impossible,  as, 
generally  speaking,  what  the  immigrant  sees  and  hears,  the  air  he 
breathes,  the  soil  he  steps  on,  is  American.  No  wonder,  that  unless 
the  newcomers  are  insusceptible  to  impressions,  they  soon  Americanize. 
Especially  must  this  be  true  if  they  come  here  to  establish  permanent 
homes,  as  to  them  it  is  an  advantage  to  become  "acclimated,"  and  "be 
a  hero  in  the  strife."  The  Scandinavian  soon  discovers  that  to  be  a 
"greeny"  is  distinctly  a  handicap  to  success;  hence,  gracefully  and 
willingly  he  submits  to  the  Americanizing  factors.  Though  everything 
about  us  is  an  American  force,  there  are,  however,  certain  ones  that 
must  receive  special  mention,  and  that  may  be  classed  as  direct  agen 
cies  in  the  process  of  Americanization. 

As  the  first  and  direct  means  we  must  mention  our  public  school, 
the  great  melting  pot  of  America.  Here  all  meet  on  common  ground, 


IN  AMERICA  43 

with  the  same  teachers,  same  classrooms,  Hebrew,  Greek  and  Gentile, 
side  by  side,  one  great  democracy  where  democratic  American  principles 
are  expounded  for  about  twelve  years  or  more  in  the  life  of  our  youth. 
These  years  represent  the  time  of  the  greatest  plasticity  and  suscepti 
bility  in  the  life  of  the  human  being.  No  vivid  imagination  is  needed 
to  understand  the  significance  of  this  to  the  youth  of  the  country,  be 
they  immigrant  children  or  native  born. 

The  school  has  an  indirect  influence  upon  the  parents.  The  chil 
dren  receive  their  instruction  at  school,  discuss  it  at  home  with  brothers, 
sisters  and  parents,  all,  whether  young  or  old,  conforming  more  or  less 
to  the  argument.  To  the  large  majority  of  school  children  even  the 
dictates  of  the  teachers  are  'aw  and  verity,  hence  they  will  defend  them 
in  no  uncertain  terms. 

In  the  rural  districts  in  the  northwest  innumerable  instances  may 
be  found  where  the  immigrant  father  depends  on  his  "boy"  in  school 
to  translate  and  inform  him  regarding  points  of  important  detail.  In 
other  communities  the  rural  school  districts  are,  and  must  be,  super 
vised  by  the  rural  immigrants,  as  they  have  the  exclusive  possession 
of  the  land.  They  rarely  do  anything  beyond  "hiring"  the  teachers 
and  issue  the  warrants  granting  their  pay.  The  course  of  study  and 
the  selection  of  text-books  being  generally  left  to  the  teachers  and 
superintendents.  The  County  Superintendent  of  Schools,  whose  chief 
duty  is  to  examine  and  license  teachers,  is  too  often  a  "political  product," 
hence,  when  a  son  or  daughter  of  an  influential  voter  seeks  a  "teacher's 
certificate"  it  is  generally  granted  without  due  regard  to  the  qualifica 
tion  of  the  applicant.  Such  teachers  assume  the  duties  of  their  pro 
fession  and  undertake  to  teach  and  "draw  up" — bring  up — the  children 
entrusted  to  their  care. 

The  above  description  shows  our  public  schools  as  managed  by 
immigrants;  their  efficiency  as  a  means  of  Americanization  is,  of 
course,  greatly  reduced  in  that  case  and  in  many  instances  is  made  to 
inculcate  foreign  principles.  This  is  especially  true  when  the  teacher 
may  belong  to  the  immigrant  class.  In  spite  of  these  discrepancies, 
the  school  will  ultimately  reach  its  goal  and  be  a  truly  American 
product.  Where  it  is  not,  may  we  not  believe  that  it  serves  its  pur 
pose,  but  by  being  what  circumstances  make  it?  To  the  Scandinavians 
the  public  school  is  nothing  new,  school  attendance  in  their  native 


44  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

land  is  compulsory,  they  come  prepared  and  eager  to  reap  its  benefits. 
In  the  middle-west,  where  the  Scandinavians  are  most  numerous,  and 
where  we  must  go  if  we  wish  to  study  them  as  a  people  in  America, 
few  homes  are  found  where  the  sons  and  daughters  have  not  made 
faithful  use  of  the  public  school.  The  people  own  a  large  number  of 
high  schools  which  are  well  attended.  This,  however,  does  not  detract 
from  their  interest  in  the  state  schools,  as  is  amply  proven  by  the 
state  Normal  Schools  and  Universities  in  Minnesota,  Michigan,  Iowa, 
Wisconsin  and  Illinois.  The  schools,  being  thus  zealously  sought  and 
faithfully  attended,  must  be  a  potent  factor  in  the  making  of  the 
American  Nation. 

BUSINESS,  by  many  supposed  to  be  the  "Royal  Road"  to  wealth 
and  the  source  of  the  much  sought  dollar,  has  not  the  charm  to  a 
Scandinavian  that  it  has  to  many  others.  If  it  had,  they  would  not 
to-day  be  the  owners  of  our  best  country  homes  and  lands.  How 
ever,  in  discussing  business  as  a  factor,  we  must  consider  it  first  as  a 
factor  acting  upon  the  individual  and  secondly  as  the  means  through 
which  the  immigrant  is  gradually  changed  by  himself  being  the  owner 
or  proprietor  of  a  "business,"  in  what  is  to  him  a  foreign  country. 
The  centers  of  business  in  a  community,  if  conducted  on  an  American 
plan  by  Americans,  are  educational  factors.  The  proprietor,  wishing 
to  establish  his  interests,  will  cater  to  the  good  will  of  the  foreigners, 
rendering  such  assistance  as  he  can  to  them  in  their  attempt  to  con 
form  to  and  adopt  the  American  customs.  The  requests  for  assistance 
are  many  and  varied,  and  offer  excellent  opportunity  for  exploiting 
the  immigrant,  should  he  so  desire.  It  may  be  said,  however,  of  the 
American  business  man,  that  he  cannot  be  accused  of  having  abused 
this  opportunity  in  any  great  degree.  The  above  recited  facts  are 
especially  applicable  to  the  country  towns  throughout  our  vast  rural 
districts,  where  the  immigrants  have  settled.  In  large  cities  these 
conditions  are  otherwise  met.  A  different  phase  of  the  question  appears 
when  the  business  man  is  one  of  the  immigrants  who  may  have  arrived 
a  few  years  earlier  and  during  this  time  has  "clerked"  in  some 
"American  Store,"  as  the  nature  of  the  American  business  demanded 
a  salesman  who  could  speak  the  foreign  language  or  languages  of  the 
people  visiting  the  place  of  business.  Having  thus  become  familiar 


IN  AMERICA  45 

with  the  business  and  the  people,  he  will  soon  be  a  competitor  with  his 
former  employer.  In  the  middle-west  innumerable  instances  of  the 
above  are  found. 

The  particular  business  is  the  mercantile  line  and  general  store. 
The  majority  of  such  business  places  conducted  by  the  immigrants  in 
the  middle  west  began  in  a  very  primitive  form, — sugar,  coffee,  tobacco, 
overalls  and  green  leather  boots  being  the  staple  articles  of  nearly 
every  "country  store."  Their  earnings  paved  the  way  for  an  extension 
of  the  business,  and  in  a  few  years  many  had  established  enterprises 
of  considerable  magnitude.  Very  few  large  establishments,  however, 
are  to  be  found  owned  and  controlled  exclusively  by  Scandinavians, 
as  they  lacked  the  commercial  instinct,  and  their  financial  resources 
were  limited.  What  they  had  at  their  command  when  arriving  were 
strong  hands  and  a  willingness  to  endure  hard  work.  These  were 
qualities  rather  than  material  means.  Having  more  of  these  qualities 
than  means,  we  can  easily  understand  why  they  are  not  found  in  "big 
business/'  but  rather  in  agriculture.  There  is  in  the  middle-west  a 
Scandinavian  Bank  in  nearly  every  Scandinavian  town  or  village,  the 
bank  being  usually  what  is  termed  a  State  Bank,  as  the  cash  capital 
required  for  such  an  institution  is  only  $10,000,  whereas  for  a  National 
Bank  $25,000  is  the  minimum.  Their  limited  capital  is  clearly  the 
cause  for  the  large  number  of  State  Banks.  Of  recent  years  they  are 
gradually  entering  larger  business  relations,  as  the  second  and  third 
generations  have  inherited  and  acquired  means,  besides  having  received 
valuable  experience  as  salesmen  and  bookkeepers  in  American  business 
establishments.  Being  a  progressive  people,  they  soon  embark  upon 
thir  own  careers  as  business  men,  the  last  fact  proves  the  statement, —  * 
the  Scandinavians  are  becoming  qualified  and  have  the  means  for  larj^e 
business. 

Closely  connected  with  business  and  usually  found  in  every  town 
is  the  Town  Hall,  used  for  political  and  civic  purposes.  Their  political 
gatherings  are  generally  held  in  these  halls,  and  in  the  rural  school 
houses,  the  speaker  being  some  young,  ambitious  man  "running"  for 
county  attorney,  superintendent  of  schools,  or  some  local  office.  As  in 
business,  so  in  their  political  gatherings,  the  meetings  are  arranged 
either  by  the  Americans  for  the  purpose  of  the  votes  they  may  receive, 
or  by  some  politically  ambitious  man  of  their  clan,  fn  either  case 


46  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

much  merit  can  be  ascribed  to  the  political  gathering.  In  all  cities 
having  a  considerable  percentage  of  Scandinavians,  political  associations 
or  clubs  are  found.  These,  however,  are  usually  furthered  by  some 
party  or  parties  for  personal  gains.  The  selfish  politician  preys  upon 
the  Scandinavian  people  as  upon  others  through  the  various  means 
at  his  command;  as  one  of  these,  we  may  mention  the  AMERICAN 
PRESS.  This  powerful  factor  for  good  and  bad  in  our  national  life 
does  not  exert  the  influence  upon  the  immigrant  that  is  generally 
accorded  it,  as  their  knowledge  of  the  English  language  is  so  limited 
that  they  read  it  with  difficulty.  The  large  city  papers  especially  "miss 
their  mark"  in  this  line.  The  local  county  papers  yield  a  far  greater 
influence  through  their  short  and  direct  attack  or  defence  of  a  candi 
date  or  cause. 

The  general  influence  of  the  American  press  is,  and  will  continue 
to  be,  quite  limited,  on  all  immigrants  not  familiar  with  the  English 
language;  e.  g.,  the  Press  first  becomes  a  factor  in  the  life  of  the  native 
born  generation.  Others  are  susceptible  only  to  a  small  degree  to 
American  influence  through  this  factor,  a  fact  which  is  not  to  be  de 
plored.  The  Press,  however,  as  a  social  force  is  one  thing  and  the 
Scandinavians  as  a  social  force  is  another,  and  the  former  need  not  be 
discussed  under  the  heading  of  the  latter. 

The  last  of  the  direct  means  of  Americanization  is  the  result  of 
being  CO-WORKERS.  As  the  Public  School  was  considered  the 
great  melting  pot  for  "young  America,"  so  may  the  factories,  the 
shops  and  the  many  other  establishments  which  bring  many  thousands 
of  men  of  every  type  in  daily  contact,  be  considered  the  melting  pot 
for  the  vast  number  of  adults.  In  the  places  mentioned,  the  Americans 
may  not  prevail  numerically,  but  our  American  language  is  made  the 
common  meeting  ground  for  the  German,  the  Jew,  the  Italian,  and 
the  Scandinavians.  The  accepted  common  language,  and  the  American 
surroundings  make  this  condition  a  powerful  process  of  Americaniza 
tion.  It  is  to  be  noted,  however,  that  this  process  has  a  tendency  to 
make  a  people  peculiar  to  themselves,  retaining  and  receiving,  as 
they  inevitably  must,  from  one  another  more  or  less  of  the  respective 
peculiar  racial  characteristics.  Evidently,  it  was  this  Senator  Bailey 
of  Texas  had  in  mind  when  he,  on  the  floor  of  the  Senate,  in  discussing 


IN  AMERICA  47 

the  Immigration  bill,  said  that  the  Senators  from  New  York  were  not 
and  could  not  be  true  representatives  of  what  is  American,  as  their 
constituency  was  too  tainted  with  European  or  foreign  traits. 

Further  evidence  of  foreign  marks  is  found  in  oft-quoted  expres 
sions,  such  as  "You  understand,"  which  is  so  largely  used  in  "the 
East"  by  all  classes  of  people,  and  is  the  result  of  a  large  number  of 
people  speaking  to  one  another  in  a  language  of  which  one  or  both 
parties  have  only  a  limited  knowledge.  The  shrug  of  the  shoulders  like 
wise  so  common  in  the  same  centers  of  population  is  an  Italian  char 
acteristics;  the  wave  of  the  hand,  so  evident  even  in  an  ordinary 
conversation,  is  acquired  from  an  unconscious  imitation  and  daily 
contact  with  the  Jews. 

Generally,  however,  the  influence  of  the  shops  and  factories  are 
favorable  to  American  citizenship.  Our  language  must  be  spoken  more 
or  less.  For  this  reason  a  man  who  may  have  arrived  in  America 
only  a  few  years  ago  prefers  to  speak  English  after  having  worked  for 
a  comparatively  short  time  in  such  surroundings.  The  man  having 
adopted  the  language  of  our  country,  will  also  more  readily  adopt  our 
customs,  manners  and  culture.  As  words  are  vehicles  of  thought,  and 
unless  a  man  is  a  hypocrite,  so  a  man  is  and  does  what  he  thinks. 

From  the  above  we  can  understand  why  Scandinavians  Americctnize 
so  rapidly — they  accept  our  language,  think  our  thoughts,  and  hence 
do  as  we  do. 

Having  discussed  the  final  factor  under  the  direct  means  of 
Americanization,  a  few  words  on  the  indirect  will  be  added.  Gen 
erally  the  immigrants  will  accept  the  people  of  the  country  as  of  i 
higher  standard  than  themselves  in  the  social,  literary  and  political  life. 
The  immigrant  being  unable  to  speak  the  language,  is  often  considered 
ignorant,  whereas  in  his  own  mother  tongue  he  may  be  quite  equ?1 
in  education  to  the  people  in  his  adopted  land.  Things  may  be  similar 
and  yet  quite  unlike.  This  is  a  condition  especially  applicable  ta  the 
various  countries.  The  immigrant  may  know  thoroughly  how  a  certain 
thing  was  done  at  home,  but  in  attempting  to  apply  the  same  methods 
in  this  country,  will  fail  utterly.  Hence  the  apparent  ignorance.  As 
stated,  the  immigrants  feel  the  superiority  of  the  population  of  the 
country.  For  this  reason,  they  recognize  the  prestige  of  English  in 


48  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

social,  literary  and  political  life.  Generally  they  will  endeavor  to  con 
form  to  this  higher  prestige  of  the  English  language  and  American 
conditions. 

To  the  immigrant  the  American  is  the  dominant  race,  with  higher 
standards  which  the  immigrant  desires  to  reach.  To  them  it  means  an 
improvement  in  manners  and  in  culture,  which  when  acquired  will 
bring  them  progress,  and  generally  assist  them  in  their  ambition  to 
reach  their  goal  in  the  new  country.  Thus  the  immigrant  uncon 
sciously  becomes  more  plastic  under  the  American  agencies  of 
Americanization. 

We  have  noted  the  means  of  Americanization.  We  may  ask  the 
question  "Should  foreigners  be  Americanized  with  the  greatest  speed?" 
The  natural  answer  is  "Yes,  the  sooner  the  better."  We  are  not  so 
certain  that  the  question  has  only  one  side,  hence  a  brief  discussion 
of  the  two  sides  will  follow. 

The  desirability  of  Americanization  is  over-emphasized,  due, 
probably,  to  a  wrong  conception  of  what  is  American.  What  is  truly 
American  is  not  easily  ascertained,  as  we  have  no  place  where  the 
population  belongs  to  an  original  American  race.  The  Swedes  and 
Germans  in  Pennsylvania  may  have  been  there  for  ten  generations.  In 
the  middle-west  we  have  the  first  and  second  generations, — by  birth 
they  are  all  Americans,  but  they  are  not  alike.  The  conception  of 
what  is  American  is  different.  In  other  places  we  have  other  nation 
alities  who  may  have  been  here  for  ten  generations.  They  are  differ 
ent  from  any  of  the  above  mentioned;  all,  however,  are  Americans, 
but  the  racial  characteristics  of  the  original  race  are  manifest.  The 
"Pennsylvania  Dutch"  and  the  Swedes  of  Delaware  may  be  as  truly 
representative  of  the  American  as  "the  New  Englander,"  although  the 
latter  may  claim  to  be  the  only  representative  of  what  is  truly  American. 
The  German  or  Scandinavian  trait  Americanized  for  centuries  is  as 
much  American  as  an  English  or  French  trait  which  has  lived  for  the 
same  length  of  time  in  our  country.  America  is  yet  in  the  "making," 
and  time  will  make  it.  Centuries  will  be  required  for  this  process  of 
amalgamation ;  our  nation  is  as  yet  to  a  large  extent  an  immigrant 
nation  or  the  result  of  such, — hence  foreign  traits  must  be  accepted 
as  part  of  the  very  essence  of  true  Americanism.  To  Americanize  in 
New  York  is  one  thing,  to  Americanize  in  Wisconsin,  Minnesota  or 


IN  AMERICA  4» 

Texas  is  quite  another  thing.  We  must  not  have  too  narrow  a  con 
ception  of  what  is  American.  If  we  have,  several  brands  of  Ameri 
canism  must  be  accepted. 

Ripley  rightly  considers  the  various  tendencies  and  traits  found  in 
Norway.  He  distinguishes  between  the  coast  people  of  "Westlanders" 
and  the  "Easterners."  He  locates  the  purest  representatives  of  the 
Teutonic  race  in  Guldsbrandsdalen  and  Odalen  in  Norway.  Similarly 
such  conditions  are  found  more  or  less  in  every  country.  If  found  in 
the  old  European  countries  with  limited  territory  and  more  than  two 
thousand  years  of  time  for  amalgamation,  have  we  any  right  to  expect 
America,  with  the  vast  territory  and  comparatively  limited  time,  to  have 
accomplished  completely  this  process?  On  the  one  hand,  assimilation 
should  be  more  difficult  to-day,  as  every  nation  is  more  firmly  estab 
lished  than  a  thousand  years  ago;  on  the  other  hand,  less  difficult  as 
the  modern  means  of  travel,  and  the  press,  make  the  nations  and  the 
world  more  like  one  people. 

As  to  the  above  facts,  Ross,  in  his  "Foundations  of  Sociology," 
says,  p.  386,  "The  anthropologist  thinks  he  can  perceive  a  distinct 
American  type,  the  formation  of  which  he  would  attribute  not  to  cli 
mate  or  crossing  of  strains,  but  to  the  same  process  that  creates 
improved  varieties  of  domestic  plants  or  animals;  viz.,  selection." 

It  is  not  to  be  inferred,  however,  that  we  have  no  distinct  American 
type,  but  this  type  is  not  yet  fixed  and  should  not  be  made  too  narrow. 
If  we  do  so,  Americanism  would  mean  the  Americanized  foreigner 
from  some  special  European  country.  What,  then,  may  be  considered 
the  American  characteristic?  Ross,  in  his  Foundations  of  Sociology, 
p.  389,  says  it  is  "Energy  of  will."  Evidence  of  this  is  seen  in  business 
competition,  or  as  the  author  just  quoted  says  in  the  same  paragraph — 
"In  the  conquest  of  the  wilderness,  in  our  faith  in  efficiency  as  the  only 
goal  of  education."  No  people  pardons  more  to  the  successful  man  or 
holds  the  persistently  poor  in  such  pity  and  contempt  as  weaklings  that 
cannot  get  into  the  game.  In  the  American,  action  predominates  over 
imagination  and  reflection.  Ross,  Foundations  of  Sociology,  p  389 — 
"He  is  the  true  anti-Buddhist,  the  Occidental  raised  to  the  «th  power. 
Hence,  the  American  rocking-chair,  solace  of  the  over-tired.  Hence, 
'Time  is  money/  'Boil  it  down/  'Twenty  minutes  for  dinner/  etc.  The 


50  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

editorial  is  read  instead  of  the  magazine  article, — to  the  women  are 
relegated  religion,  literature,  art,  social  elegancies, — whatever,  in  short, 
demands  repose." 

In  order  that  we  may  have  an  authoritative  and  unbiased  descrip 
tion  for  "American,"  Ross  is  quoted:  "The  strong  will  of  the  Ameri 
can  heeds  nothing  but  the  goal.  The  high  voltage  American  of  the 
pioneer  breed  contemns  hardship  and  risk,  braves  alike  White  Pass 
and  Death  Valley." 

Ross,  Foundations  of  Sociology,  p.  390:  "In  sport  or  in  battle, 
no  one  will  stand  more  punishment  than  he.  Body,  appetites,  inclina 
tions, — all  are  gripped  in  the  iron  vise  of  his  will.  Unsparing  of  him 
self,  he  is  reckless  in  sacrificing  others.  His  impulses  are  kindly,  but 
woe  to  those  whose  rights  or  lives  block  his  way." 

"The  enjoying  of  things  requires  the  passive  attitude,  letting 
things  work  on  you.  The  reign  of  the  active  spirit  therefore  makes 
ours  a  producers'  society  rather  than  a  consumers'  society.  We  neglect 
no  trifle  that  will  lo\Ver  the  cost,  but  overlook  little  things  that  add  to 
comfort.  In  London  there  are  hotels  where  the  morning  paper  is 
warmed  before  it  is  handed  to  you.  In  Berlin  there  are  restaurants 
where  they  give  you  an  electric  stirrer  with  thermometer  inserted  to 
bring  your  beer  to  just  the  right  temperature.  The  New  World  for 
making  money,  the  Old  World  for  spending  it.  Hence  the  active 
come  to  us,  the  idle  rich  desert  us.  We  do  not  learn  to  dawdle 
gracefully.  An  American  crowd  never  effervesces  with  gayety  like 
the  holiday  throng  in  Europe." 

"Guile  is  the  resource  of  the  feeble,  the  weapon  of  the  down 
trodden.  The  born  American,  on  the  other  hand,  feels  able  to  win 
without  stopping.  Conscious  of  strenght,  he  prefers  to  speak  the  truth 
and  play  fair,  not  as  something  due  to  others,  but  as  something  due 
to  himself.  But  for  all  that  he  owes  to  himself  to  succeed.  Where 
business  or  political  competition  becomes  fierce,  this  native  morality  is, 
therefore,  comprised  by  the  determination  to  succeed  at  any  cost. 
Hence  a  queer,  ring-straked  conscience  that  does  not  stick  at  corrup 
tion,  fraud  and  grand  larceny,  yet  keeps  faith  with  foes  and  warns 
before  striking." 

"In  point  of  intellect  Americans  are  not  clearly  differentiated  from 
the  mother  stocks.  Although  free  from  the  ox-like  "man-with-the-hoe" 


IN  AMERICA  51 

— that  sort  finding  here  no  chance  to  survive  or  mate — we  must  not 
impute  to  ourselves  unusual  mental  capacity.  The  change  a  few  years 
of  our  electrifying  ozone  works  in  the  dull-,  fat-witted  immigrant 
suggests  that  our  proverbial  alertness,  cleverness  and  lucidity  betokens 
stimulus  rather  than  brain  power.  It  is,  after  all,  the  high  peaks  that 
count,  and  no  one  is  so  rash  as  to  assert  that  our  crop  of  geniuses  per 
million  is  heavier  than  that  of  Scotland  and  Switzerland.  It  is  only 
by  counting  in  our  inventors — mostly  mechanical — and  our  captains 
of  industry  that  we  can  offset  our  deficit  of  eminent  men  in  literature, 
art  and  science." 

"Albeit  we  travel  on  a  rising  curve  of  civilization,  anthropologically 
we  are  at  our  zenith,  for  the  westward  shifting  of  people  has  slackened, 
and  the  bracing  selections  of  the  frontier  have  well-nigh  ceased. 
Indeed,  it  is  quite  possible  that  in  1860,  before  the  Great  Killing  and 
the  Great  Dilution,  the  human  stuff  here  was  some  carats  finer  than  it 
is  to-day." 

"The  Civil  War  cost  half  a  million  men  well  above  the  average 
in  physique  and  spirit.  The  South  lost  her  flower.  In  the  North 
the  impulsive  were  decimated,  while  the  calculating  stayed  at  home  and 
multiplied.  Had  this  splendid  half  million  lived,  the  Old  World  would 
not  have  peopled  the  trans-Mississippi  region,  and  the  nomenclature 
of  many  a  Western  town  would  be  different  to-day.  The  blood  of  the 
nation  was  lastingly  impoverished  by  that  awful  hemorrhage.  The 
cheap  stucco  manikins  from  Southeastern  Europe  do  not  really  take 
the  place  of  the  unbegotten  sons  of  the  granite  men  who  fell  at  Gettys 
burg  and  Cold  Harbor.  Had  this  sterling  humanity  not  been  squan 
dered  would  the  South  be  so  hysterical  or  the  North  so  graft-rotted  as 
is  the  case  to-day?" 

"Then  came  the  Great  Dilution  to  pull  down  the  average." 
"The  flood  of  immigration  now  flows  from  different  sources,  and 
taps  lower  human  levels  than  the  earlier  tide.  Over-persuaded,  from 
Croatia  and  Dalmatia  and  Sicily  and  Armenia,  they  throng  to  us,  the 
beaten  members  of  beaten  breeds,  often  the  more  aboriginal  men  that 
have  been  elbowed  aside  or  left  behind  in  the  swayings  of  the  mightier 
European  races.  Do  these  Slovaks  and  Syrians  add  as  much  to  the 
strength  of  the  human  piers  that  support  our  civilization  as  Scotch, 
Irish  or  Scandinavians?  As  undersized  in  spirit,  no  doubt,  as  they 


52  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

are  in  body,  the  later  comers  lack  the  ancestral  foundations  of  American 
character,  and  even  if  they  catch  step  with  us  they  and  their  children 
will,  nevertheless,  impede  our  progress." 

"The  inrush  from  the  lesser  breeds  has  not  stayed  the  march  of 
industry  or  commerce  or  science  or  education,  for  these  are  in  the 
capable  hands  of  picked  men.  But  the  newcomer  counts  one  at  the 
polls,  and  hence  it  is  in  our  politics  that  the  sag  is  most  evident.  The 
higher  types  of  men  are  prompted  to  act  together  because  they  believe 
in  the  same  principle,  or  love  the  same  ideal.  The  inferior  pull  together 
from  clannishness  or  allegiance  to  a  leader.  The  growing  disposition 
to  rally  about  persons  and  the  rising  value  of  the  saloon-keeper,  the 
ex-pugilist  and  the  boss  in  controlling  city  voters  would  indicate  that 
the  electorate  has  been  debased  by  the  too  free  admission  of  political 
incapables." 

"The  strife  between  labor  and  capital  has  been  aggravated  by 
ethnic  difference.  The  employer  has  been  more  haughty,  the  employee 
more  turbulent,  than  if  they  had  stood  on  one  race  plane.  Caste  widens 
the  gulf  between  them  and  the  Edenic  reasonableness  of  the  Antipodes 
is  hardly  for  us  to  hope." 

"Dilution,  however,  need  not  spell  decline.  The  psychology  of 
the  superior  third  of  the  people  creates  the  spirit  which  ultimately 
comes  to  dominate  the  rest.  It  gives  rise  to  ideals,  which,  under  the 
pressure  of  divers  social  atmospheres!  penetrate  to  the  soul's  marrow 
and  become  a  second  nature.  This  is  why,  despite  the  swelling  influx 
of  the  inferior,  that  emanation  of  the  pioneering  breed,  the  American 
spirit,  is  still  clear,  strong  and  triumphant.  Never  has  the  psychic 
whirlwind  here  had  more  power  to  seize  and  bear  aloft  lowly  men  than 
it  has  to-day.  The  social  body  quivers  throughout  under  our  forced- 
draft  pace." 

"Free  land  is  gone,  however,  and  the  fact  that  nowadays  the  hegira 
of  the  ambitious  is  all  to  the  man-stifled  town  instead  of  to  the  spacious, 
prolific  frontier  may  be  fateful  for  the  American  element  in  our  popu 
lation.  The  great  glittering  cities  attract  the  brightest  youths  from  the 
farms  and  tempt  them  to  strain  for  the  prizes  of  success.  But  what 
with  shortened  lives,  bachelorhood,  late  or  childless  marriages,  and  small 
families,  the  cities  constitute  so  many  blast  furnaces,  where  the  talented 


IN  AMERICA  53 

rise  and  become  incandescent,  to  be  sure,  but  for  all  that  are  incin 
erated  without  due  replacement.  Thus  may  run  down  a  race  keyed 
up  by  the  migrations  of  more  than  two  centuries." 

In  a  former  chapter  it  was  stated  that  variation  is  necessary  to 
progress;  hence  why  should  our  attempts  be  at  a  complete  unification 
or  assimilation?  It  is  evident  that  every  immigrant  coining  to  America 
should  become  an  integral  part  of  the  country.  This  process,  however, 
must  be  along  natural  lines,  and  not  in  a  forced  manner.  Hot-house 
plants  may  look  well,  but  they  have  not  the  hardihood  and  conditions 
of  resistance  equal  to  that  of  a  plant  raised  in  the  open,  and  as  such 
has  been  subjected  to  the  winds  and  the  strong  air.  Similarly,  the 
immigrant  who  is  forced  to  Americanize  may  acquire  the  American 
veneer,  but  lack  the  true  inner  nature  which  should  regulate  the 
external  condition  of  the  man.  Even  though  we  concede  that  all  or 
the  majority  of  our  immigrants  intend  to  become  citizens  of  this 
country,  and  to  identify  themselves  with  the  development  of  it,  we 
cannot  expect  them  to  break  off  all  allegiance,  remembrance  and 
impressions  of  their  fatherland  in  a  day.  The  Honorable  Charles 
Nagel,  Secretary  of  Commerce  and  Labor,  says  in  his  article  on 
"Loyalty  to  One's  Country" :  "I  shall  never  forget  the  first  time  I 
returned  to  the  native  country  of  my  parents.  When  I  looked 
upon  the  red  roofs  among  the  green  trees  of  Bremerhaven,  I  felt  that  I 
had  at  one  time  lived  there.  Such  was  the  influence  of  the  mother  coun 
try  upon  the  bringing  up  of  an  American  boy."  There  is  no  reason  why 
the  best  sentiments  in  the  human  heart  should  be  destroyed  when  it 
is  the  best  that  can  be  contributed  to  American  citizenship.  "You 
may  believe  in  traditions,"  says  Charles  Nagel,  "and  you  may  be 
anxious  to  bring  to  the  attention  of  this  country  the  great  achievements 
and  the  brilliant  history  of  your  ancestors.  I  go  further  than  that ; 
I  am  not  only  anxious  to  impress  this  country  with  the  greatness  of 
my  forefathers,  but  I  believe  that  the  fullest  development  of  the 
United  States  depends  upon  our  getting  the  fullest  benefit  of  every 
thing  that  very  other  country  can  contribute."  This  is  accomplished 
through  time;  and  must  be  the  result  of  a  natural  adaptation  to  the 
conditions  of  America.  The  different  forces  at  work  in  our  United 
States  can  not  be  brought  together  at  once.  The  conditions  under  which 


54  SCANDINAVIANS   AS  A   SOCIAL  FORCE 

the  citizenship  of  this  country  is  made  up,  are  constantly  changing. 
The  foreigners  came  to  our  country  by  invitation  or  by  consent, 
and  we  do  not  have  substitution,  but  amalgamation,  of  the  com 
ponent  parts.  Hence  we  must  endeavor  to  retain  the  virtues  of  the 
nations  and  to  eradicate  the  vices.  America  needs  the  taste  of  the 
French,  the  capacity  for  intensive  study  of  the  Germans,  and  the 
tact  of  the  Dane. 

The  further  discussion  of  this  subject  will  be  continued  under  three 
different  phases.  The  first  we  will  call  stage  One,  this  being  the 
period  following  the  immediate  landing  of  the  immigrant,  when  results 
of  foreign  training  are  manifest  in  thoughts,  words  and  deeds.  An 
attempt  to  make  a  foreigner  a  complete  American  at  this  stage  would 
and  ought  to  fail.  Though  walking  on  American  soil  and  surrounded 
by  an  environment  quite  American,  the  thoughts,  i.  e.,  his  soul  life, 
is  and  will  remain  for  a  considerable  length  of  time,  foreign,  and  must 
reflect  the  thoughts  received  whilst  in  his  native  land.  With  more  or 
less  success,  he  may  be  able  to  "think  one  thing,  and  do  another 
thing,"  but  generally  the  thought  precedes  the  act,  the  latter  being 
thought  in  action.  During  this  time  the  immigrant  may  acquire  more 
or  less  of  the  ability  to  speak  and  read  our  language,  but  the  complaint 
is  often  heard  that  though  the  words  are  English,  the  thoughts  are  in 
the  foreign  language;  i.  e.,  they  think  in  one  language  and  speak  in 
another,  a  sort  of  silent  translation. 

The  Second  stage  represents  the  Scandinavian  American  who  ma^ 
be  foreign  born  but  who  has  become  considerably  Americanized  by  the 
means  already  mentioned  in  this  chapter.  The  expression  "Scan 
dinavian-American"  is  commonly  used  in  the  middle-west  to  indicate 
this  class  of  our  American  citizens,  and  includes  men  who  have  fought 
and  suffered  for  our  country  during  the  Civil  War  and  the  Spanish- 
American  War. 

The  last  and  final  stage  in  Americanization  is  reached  when  we 
have  the  American  by  birth,  and  American  by  environment.  We  are 
informed  that  an  individual  is  made  what  he  is  by  physicial  and  social 
heredity,  and  by  the  environment;  if  this  is  true,  as  it  is,  little  remains 
to  be  added  in  order  to  have  a  complete  American.  It  must  be  noted, 
however,  that  the  above  process  is  comparatively  slow  and  not  as 


IN  AMERICA  55 

rapid  as  the  popular  mind  might  demand  it.  Hence  the  conclusion — 
Americanization  is  desirable,  but  only  as  rapidly  as  the  country  can 
absorb  the  immigrant  and  as  rapidly  as  the  immigrant  may  be  able  to 
become  a  part  of  the  new  conditions. 

"Lat  os  ikkje  forfederna  gloyma, 
Under  alt,  som  me  venda  og  snu, 
For  dei  gav  os  ein  arv  til  aa  gjoyma, 
Han  er  storre,  ann  mange  vil  tru. 

Lat  det  merkjast  i  meir  enn  i  ordi, 
At  me  halda  den  arven  istand, 
At,  naar  federne  sjaa  att  paa  jordi, 
Dei  kan  kjenna  sitt  folk  af  sitt  land." 

IVAR  AASEN. 


CHAPTER  V. 
THE  ECONOMIC  INFLUENCE  OF  SCANDINAVIANS  IN  AMERICA. 

Every  immigrant  arriving  in  this  country  becomes  an  economic 
factor.  He  must  join  forces  either  with  the  producing  or  the  con 
suming  class.  The  Scandinavians  have  especially  been  identified  with 
the  former,  which  constitutes  largely  the  agricultural  class,  and  have 
also  furnished  its  quota  to  the  consuming  class.  When  in  the  preceding 
chapter  we  described  the  Scandinavians  as  having  more  qualities  for 
work  than  means  for  business,  we  also  gave  the  reason  why  they  are 
capable  and  have  attained  success  in  the  agriculture  of  our  country. 
Agriculture  contributes  the  three  indispensable  needs  in  the  life  of  every 
civilized  man, — food,  clothing  and  shelter.  More  persons  are  engaged 
in  this  occupation  than  in  any  other.  About  one-third  of  the  popu 
lation  of  the  United  States  are  farmers.  The  importance  of  this 
industry,  however,  is  not  only  in  its  numerical  strength,  but  in  the 
fact  that  it  produces  most  of  the  food  supply  for  the  nation,  and  the 
raw  material  for  several  other  industries.  When  on  the  following  pages 
we  use  the  general  term  "farm"  wre  think  of  the  "running"  of  a 
farm,  and  the  raising  of  products  on  the  land.  The  word  "agriculture" 
is  often  used  to  include  all  the  enterprises  connected  with  the  farm. 
As  there  is  no  real  distinction  between  farming  and  agriculture,  these 
words  in  this  chapter  will  be  used  as  synonymous  terms. 

America  is  one  of  the  most  independent  nations  of  the  earth,  this 
independence  being  due  not  only  to  the  American  spirit,  but  also  to  the 
sense  that  every  American  has  as  to  the  value  of  the  immense  natural 
resources  and  productive  farm  lands  throughout  the  country.  Up  to 
the  present  time,  through  the  high  tariff  system,  foreign  goods  of 
nearly  every  description  have  been  barred,  this  being  possible,  as  the 
country  is,  generally  speaking,  "self-supporting."  The  three  necessities 
of  life  mentioned,  food,  clothing,  shelter,  are  amply  produced  by  the 

56 


IN  AMERICA  57 

American  farmer.  It  is  to  the  interest  of  the  farmer  that  production 
is  limited,  as  the  less  the  production  the  greater  the  demand  and  the 
consequent  higher  prices.  It  is  weU  t»  remember  that  the  most  vigorous 
objection  to  the  Reciprocity  Treaty  with  Canada  came  from  the 
American  farmer.  He  feared  that  by  opening  the  market  of  the  United 
States  to  the  Canadian  farmer,  competition  would  become  active,  and 
lower  prices  would  be  the  inevitable  result. 

The  magnitude  and  importance  of  agriculture  is  clearly  seen  in  the 
report  of  ex-Secretary  James  Wilson,  who  served  as  Secretary  of 
Agriculture  for  sixteen  years,  1897-1913.  The  first  year  of  his  service 
began  with  a  yearly  farm  production  worth  Four  Billion  Dollars,  and 
the  last  closed  with  Nine  Billion  Five  Hundred  and  Thirty-two  Million 
Dollars.  The  farmer,  in  spite  of  abandoned  farms,  is  making  a  steady 
increase  in  his  wealth  production  from  year  to  year.  "Considering," 
says  Mr.  Wilson,  "the  wealth  produced  on  farms  in  1899  to  be 
regarded  as  100,  the  wealth  produced  sixteen  years  ago  or  in  1897 
represented  by  84,  and  the  wealth  produced  1912  by  202.1.  During  the 
sixteen  years  the  farmers'  wealth  production  increased  141."  These 
figures  represent  the  farmers'  contribution  to  the  wealth  of  the  nation, 
and  shows  its  "basic  importance  to  the  nation."  He  further  states  that 
during  the  last  sixteen  years,  his  term  of  office,  the  wealth  production 
on  farms  reached  the  grand  total  of  more  than  One  Hundred  and 
Five  Billion  Dollars.  "This  stream  of  wealth  has  poured  out  of  the 
farmers'  horn  of  plenty,  and  in  sixteen  years  has  equalled  about  three- 
fourths  of  the  present  national  wealth."  The  year  1912  produced 
enormous  crops,  only  twoL  wheat  and  tobacco,  have  been  exceeded 
twice  in  production,  and  only  two,  cotton  and  rice,  have  been  exceeded 
once  in  production.  "All  of  the  other  crops  stand  at  the  'high  water 
mark.' '  As  an  evidence  of  the  growth  of  agriculture,  Mr.  Wilson 
calls  attention  to  the  progress  made  in  the  Department  of  Agriculture 
during  his  sixteen  years  of  service.  He  began  with  what  he  terms 
the  kindergarten  department  and  leaves  it  with  "a  thousand  tongues 
speaking  with  authority."  Bureas  have  been  created  for  various  lines 
of  work.  Investigation  and  administration  as  to  methods  and  improve 
ment  of  farming  has  added  greatly  to  scientific  agriculture.  "The 
department  has  becopie  a  great  agriculture  university  of  post-graduate 
work."  In  1897  the  department  of  agriculture  had  2,444  employees, 


58  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

and  an  appropriation  of  $3,272,902.  At  the  close  of  the  last  presidential 
administration  it  had  13,858  employees  and  an  appropriation  for  1912 
of  about  $25,000,000.  There  is  now  an  average  of  52,000  requests 
every  week  for  departmental  publications;  in  1897  the  average  was  500 
per  week.  During  Mr.  Wilson's  sixteen  years  of  service,  225  million 
copies  were  distributed.  From  the  above  figures  we  must  admit  the 
enormous  growth  of  agriculture  in  our  country.  In  order,  however,  to 
arrive  at  a  just  conclusion  as  to  where  the  country  stands  to-day  with 
respect  to  agriculture,  the  figures  must  be  taken  relatively.  During  the 
last  decade  the  population  of  the  United  States,  as  a  whole,  increased 
21  per  cent.  The  rural  population,  however,  increased  only  11.2  per 
cent.  The  increase  in  the  number  of  farms  during  the  period  was 
10.9  per  cent.  The  value  of  farm  property  from  1900  to  1910  increased 
100.5  per  cent.  The  greater  part  of  this  immense  increase  was  in  the 
land  itself,  the  value  of  which  increased  118.1  per  cent.;  the  average 
size  of  farms  decreased  from  146.2  acres  in  1900  to  138.1  acres  in 
1910.  This  shows  a  tendency  slowly  but  surely  toward  the  smaller 
farm.  The  population  increasing,  and  no  more  government  land  to  be 
given  away,  the  general  acreage  must  become  less,  which  will  also  mean 
more  intensive  and  less  extensive  farming.  It  is  significant  that  the 
decrease  or  slow  increase  in  the  rural  population  throughout  the  large 
areas  of  the  United  States  is  not  due  to  the  absence  of  agricultural 
prosperity.  States  showing  a  decrease  or  only  very  slight  increase  in 
rural  population  during  the  past  decade  show  a  large  increase  in  the 
value  of  farm  property.  In  spite  of  this  splendid  financial  showing 
and  apparent  prosperity,  large  numbers  of  young  people  leave  the  farms. 
The  loss  of  this  rural  population  is  due  to  economic,  social  and  educa 
tional  causes,  as  will  appear  later  in  the  chapter.  The  economic  cause 
which  has  driven  so  many  from  the  farms  may  be  clearly  pointed  out, 
and  began  about  twenty-five  years  ago.  At  that  time  the  "hard  times" 
for  the  farmer  prevailed  throughout  the  country.  To  raise  grain  and 
cattle  at  a  constant  loss  or  for  the  "board"  is  a  vocation  that  even  the 
most  sanguine  will  not  pursue  for  any  length  of  time.  Raising  wheat 
at  40  cents  per  bushel  when  75  cents  per  bushel  is  the  least  at  which 
it  can  be  raised  and  bring  a  small  profit  to  the  producer  will  not 
attract  the  ambitious  youth  of  the  country.  Such  were  the  agricultural 


IN  AMERICA  59 

economic  conditions  which  prevailed  for  many  years,  and  that  caused 
the  exodus  from  the  country  to  the  city.  Sheer  necessity  drove  the 
youth  to  seek  something  better.  However,  the  faithful  remained,  and 
received  their  just  reward.  During  the  period  mentioned,  it  was 
necessary  that  young, and  old,  men  and  women,  work  on  the  farm. 
This  the  Scandinavians  and  the  Germans  were  willing  to  do.  Women  ( 
"pitching"  wheat  bundles,  haying  and  plowing,  was  no  uncommon 
sight  at  that  time.  The  return  "in  cash"  received  for  farm  products 
was  so  small  that  it  forbade  the  hiring  of  farm  laborers.  The  repre 
sentatives  of  the  Scandinavian  nations  were  among  the  few  who  would 
endure  such  extreme  hardships,  many  farmers  of  other  nationalities 
sacrificed  their  land  at  a  very  low  price  or  entirely  abandoned  it. 
This  explains  why  to-day  the  Scandinavians  and  the  Germans  are  the 
owners  of  our  best  farms  and  country  homes.  It  is  said  out  West 
that  when  passing  through  the  rural  districts,  it  is  possible  only  by 
ordinary  observation  to  distinguish  the  homes  of  the  Scandinavians 
and  the  Germans  from  those  of  their  fellow  farmers  of  whatever  race 
they  may  be.  Good,  well-kept  buildings,  orderly  farm  yards,  tell  the 
tale. 

The  cause  just  mentioned,  the  economic,  is  specific.  Another 
which  may  be  considered  equally  decisive  in  its  effect  is  the  desire  for 
Social  privileges  and  opportunities.  Especially  the  young  people  leave 
the  land  because  of  the  dreariness  and  the  lack  of  fascinations  and 
charms  so  prominent  in  even  the  smallest  country  villages.  The  com 
forts  (and  luxuries)  of  city  life  contrast  strongly  with  the  smoking 
candle  and  their  soiled  working  clothes.  It  is  in  the  cities  the  country 
youth  acquire  the  new  tastes  and  habits  which  they  never  can  renounce, 
and  in  which  they  freely  indulge  in  city  life, — hence  they  remain. 
Should  they  by  chance  return  to  the  plow,  it  is  but  for  a  short  time. 
The  weary  and  monotonous  life  of  the  field  has  not  the  charms  to 
overcome  their  longing  for  city  life,  and  so  at  the  first  opportunity 
they  return.  Their  "great  ambition"  is  to  become  FUNCTIONARIES, 
postmen,  shop-walkers  or  railway  employees.  The  women  have  not 
escaped  the  contagion.  They  have  become  fascinated  by  the  sights  and 
the  styles  of  the  town.  Jules  Meline  in  "The  Return  to  the  Land," 
p.  92,  says:  "They  have  derived  from  them  a  taste  for  gaiety  and 


60  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

fine  dresses  and  holiday  making.  On  their  return  their  village  seems 
to  them  dull,  the  farm  dirty  and  dismal,  and  their  work  repugnant; 
the  laborer  seems  to  them  dull  and  loutish  compared  with  the  seductive 
youths  who  have  lavished  money  on  them  in  the  towns.  The  role  of 
the  farmer's  wife  seems  to  them  despicable  and  they  will  have  nothing 
to  do  with  any  of  the  young  men  of  the  village  except  those  who  have 
become  clerks  or  functionaries.  This  picture  suggests  something  of 
the  change  that  has  come  over  the  life  of  most  of  our  villages  during 
the  last  twenty  years.  We  can  instance  several  cases  of  agricultural 
families  which  have  given  up  splendid  properties  with  aching  hearts 
because  their  sons  could  not  find  women  to  marry  them  and  share  theii 
life  in  the  country." 

The  new  science  of  agriculture  endeavors  to  remedy  the  short 
comings  of  the  farm.  The  rural  mail  delivery,  rural  telephones,  the 
invention  of  gas  and  electric  lighting  systems,  the  gasoline  motor, 
modern  farm  machinery  for  every  kind  of  work,  and  last  but  not  least, 
the  automobile,  will  bestow  the  coveted  dignity  sought  by  nearly  every 
human  being,  even  upon  the  farmer.  Hence  we  may  expect  a  return  to 
the  land  movement.  Another  reason  the  farmer  felt  the  humbleness 
of  his  industry  was  the  fact  that  scientific  agriculture  did  not  keep  pace 
with  the  general  science  pertaining  to  the  manufacturing  industries 
which  fascinated  all  eyes,  absorbed  all  minds,  and  gave  rise  to  all  kinds 
of  hopes.  When  science  turned  towards  agriculture,  the  latter  soon 
realized  that  it  was  the  first  of  all  industries,  not  because  it  was  the 
most  necessary,  but  because  it  was  the  most  elevated,  scientifically, 
being,  in  its  essence,  the  center, — as  all  sciences,  find  the  soil  their 
particular  field.  Though  farming  may  be  reinstated  in  its  place  from 
the  standpoint  of  science,  it  must  also  be  reinstated  from  the  domain 
of  economics.  The  humility  inflicted  upon  it  in  former  years  is  still  felt, 
and  much  remains  to  be  done  before  it  can  rank  in  popularity  with  the 
competitive  industries.  It  is  well  to  point  out  to  the  city  dwellers,  the 
present  high  standing  of  the  farmer  and  his  future  possibilities.  New 
openings  are  needed  every  day  for  labor,  as  the  more  difficult  the 
labor  problem  becomes  in  the  factories  of  our  cities,  the  stronger  will 
the  movement  of  back  to  the  land  become.  Jules  Meline,  p.  83,  says: 
"What  is  to  become  of  our  countless  workers  unable  to  find  work? 
There  is  but  one  opening,  one  resource  for  them — an  opening  wide 


IN  AMERICA  61 

enough  for  all,  and  resources  that  will  be  inexhaustible  for  centuries 
yet  to  come — the  land."  Truly  one  million  people  less  in  New  York 
City  and  the  fertile  prairies  of  North  Dakota  increased  by  the  Some 
number  would  be  a  boon  to  the  city  and  state,  and  alleviate  a  great 
deal  of  suffering  for  the  idle  million  of  this  great  city.  The  land  is 
calling  for  tillers  and  offers  vast  opportunities.  The  Scandinavians 
have  heard  the  call,  obeyed  it,  and  have  chosen  the  most  fertile  land  f 
found  in  the  United  States.  The  "bread  basket  of  the  world,"  the 
popular  name  of  the  Red  River  Valley  of  the  North,  is  owned  by 
them. 

The  economic  and  social  conditions  of  the  Scandinavian  immigrants 
did  not  prevent  them  from  "homesteading"  in  the  North  Central 
States,  as  they  were  not  trained  to  ease  and  luxury.  Their  life  was  > 
that  of  the  common  peasant,  which  explains  their  aptitude  for  farming 
and  desire  for  a  home  in  their  adopted  land.  When  arriving  in  our 
country  the  Scandinavians  brought  their  families,  or  if  unable  to  bring 
them  at  once,  prepared  and  sought  to  bring  them  at  the  very  earliest 
opportunity.  With  the  family  came  the  need  of  a  home,  and  as  they  } 
had  severed  all  economic  connections  with  their  native  land,  they  had 
one  aim,  viz.,  to  establish  permanent  homes.  At  first  these  were  very 
primitive,  being  what  is  called  "dug-outs,"  "sod-houses,"  or  where  they 
settled  in  the  forests,  log  houses.  From  the  outside  such  houses  might 
look  uninviting;  on  the  inside,  however,  they  were  generally  well 
finished,  being  plastered,  very  often  "papered,"  and  tidy,  which  added 
to  the  home  comfort.  In  many  instances  terra  firma  unadorned  consti 
tuted  the  floor,  which,  however,  was  generally  kept  quite  clean.  In 
other  instances  where  it  could  be  afforded,  rough  boards  sawed  from 
trees  that  might  be  nearest  at  hand,  were  used  for  flooring.  Imbued 
with  a  spirit  of  permanency  and  the  spirit  of  the  Viking  which  always  ( 
rebels  against  "cramped"  conditions,  they  were  moved  to  frugality  and 
prudence,  which  in  turn  made  it  possible  for  them  to  improve  their 
homes.  Hence  very  soon,  and  in  many  instances,  the  sod  hut  was 
replaced  by  what  may  be  properly  called  mansions.  Many  rural  homes 
are  now  as  completely  equipped  as  the  majority  of  city  homes,  having 
their  central  heating  plant,  hot  and  cold  water,  complete  bath-room 
equipment,  a  small  electric  or  gas  plant  from  which  light  is  obtained 
in  the  yard,  the  barn,  the  granary  and  other  houses  necessary  on  a 


62  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

complete  farm.  The  home  is  usually  well  provided  with,  though  not 
always,  well  selected  pictures  and  other  pieces  of  art.  The  flooring  is 
no  longer  terra  firma  unadorned,  but  hard  maple  floors  covered  with 
rugs  of  a  fair  quality.  The  above  described  homes  are  among  the  best 
and  are  such  as  every  nation  may  be  proud  of. 

It  is  often  argued  that  the  foreigners  coming  to  our  country  rob 
the  Americans  of  their  opportunities.  This  may  be  partly  true,  yet  the 
districts  in  the  United  States  where  the  immigrant  has  not  interfered 
with  the  native  American  does  not  substantiate  the  charge.  Before  we 
can  have  good  counry  homes,  we  must  have  those  who  can  and  will 
build  them;  before  we  can  have  agriculture,  we  must  have  a  class  of 
people  who  have  the  aptitude  and  the  traits  necessary  for  being  farmers. 
Not  all  who  might  wish  to  be  tillers  of  the  soil  would  make  successful 
farmers.  Europeans  traveling  through  the  United  States  bestow  many 
laurels  upon  the  American  farm  home,  which  in  so  many  instances  in 
the  states  mentioned,  are  built  by  the  Scandinavians  and  the  Germans. 

A  dark  cloud,  however,  hangs  over  the  future  of  the  American- 
Scandinavian  farm-house,  as  the  parents  lack  wisdom  to  parcel  out 
their  large  farm  to  their  children  as  they  become  of  age,  the  father 
retains  the  land  and  thus  inflicts  the  necessity  of  the  young  people  leav 
ing  the  homestead  for  the  city  or  other  rural  districts.  When  the 
parents  pass  away,  the  sons  and  daughters  have  established  their 
homes  and  can  not  assume  charge  of  the  "old  place,"  hence  this 
unfortunate  arrangement  is  the  cause  of  many  farms  going  into  the 
hands  of  other  nationalities  and  threatens  destruction  to  the  Scandina 
vian  Communities.  The  people  most  eager  to  provide  homes  for  their 
children  are  the  Germans,  and  who  for  this  reason  are  rapidly  purchas 
ing  the  farms  of  other  races  and  thus  establish  a  compact  community. 
This  means  that  the  Germans  have  a  strong  tendency  to  cohere  and 
make  permanent  communities  while  the  Scandinavian  settlements  may 
disintegrate  after  the  first  generation ;  hence  the  future  of  their  present 
k  colonies  is  a  matter  of  conjecture. 

Another  statement  may  be  added  as  to  the  Scandinavian  parents; 
they  very  much  desire  their  sons  to  continue  on  the  farms,  but  as 
"renters."  This  does  not  bring  independence,  but  leaves  the  young 
people  under  the  direct  orders  of  their  elders,  and  as  the  orders  are 
often  given  in  no  uncertain  terms  and  unfavorable  to  the  son,  it  leaves 


IN  AMERICA  63 

a  condition  too  uncertain  for  a  man  having  assumed  the  responsibility 
of  being  the  head  of  a  family.  Their  innate  racial  characateristic  of 
wanting  a  home  impels  them  to  break  the  old  ties  and  to  seek  condi 
tions  under  which  a  home  may  be  established,  be  it  ever  so  humble. 

To  analyze  and  give  the  reasons  why  this  trait  is  found  in  the 
Scandinavians  can  be  done  only  with  difficulty.  To  say  it  is  their 
nature,  is  not  to  state  the  cause.  If  we  could  say — why  this  nature, 
the  question  would  be  more  nearly  solved.  In  attempting  to  state  a 
"why,"  two  reasons  will  be  given.  It  is  conceded  that  with  an  inde 
pendent  nature  follows  a  tendency  to  autocracy;  this  is  seen  in  Norway 
at  the  time  it  had  its  numerous  "smaa  konger,"  literally  little  kings, 
each  of  whom  ruled  over  his  "valley"  and  immediate  vicinity.  The 
desire  to  rule  was  so  .great  that  constant  internal  strifes  and  battles 
prevailed  between  the  smaa  konger  before  the  Norwegians  became  a 
unified  whole  or  a  nation.  This  same  psychologic  characteristic  has 
continued  down  through  history  and  was  the  cause  of  the  abolition  of 
the  nobility  and  titles  in  Norway,  though  many  still  adhere  to,  and 
covet  the  supposed  glory  of  the  title.  If  all  could  not  belong  to  the 
nobility,  or  have  titles,  then  none  should  have  it,  hence  the  abolishment. 
The  last  feature  reveals  another  strong  trait;  namely,  jealousy.  As 
this  trait,  however,  does  not  constitute  an  important  part  in  the  matter 
here  discussed,  it  will  not  be  further  considered.  Another  factor  which 
may  explain  their  attitude  to  their  children  is  the  humble  condition 
which  surrounded  them  in  their  European  homes;  they  were,  with 
few  exceptions,  without  any  "real  property."  This  made  them  what 
was  termed  "H'usmiand" ;  i.  e..  a  husband  and  his  family  worked  for 
the  "Bonde" ;  i.  e.,  the  owner  of  a  farm ;  for  this  they  received  a 
Husmand's  quarters,  and  a  very  small  allowance.  The  independent 
farmer  of  to-day  of  the  Northwest  belongs  largely  to  this  class,  and 
it  appears  that  the  sense  of  ownership,  which  is  new  to  him,  makes 
him  selfish  even  to  his  own  kin,  and  in  attempting  to  gratify  this  sense, 
even  his  sons  and  daughters  must  be  made  his  servants  in  their  mature 
years 

It  is  necessary  to  include  some  statistical  data  of  the  agricultural  con 
ditions  of  the  United  States  in  order  that  a  comparison  of  the  various 
states  may  be  made.  As  no  statistics  are  found  which  show  the  extent 
of  the  contributions  of  the  different  nationalities  to  the  agricultural 


64  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

productions,  the  information  obtained  from  such  sources  can  be  only  by 
inference  and  comparison  of  the  figures  in  the  light  of  what  has  been 
said  relative  to  the  location  of  the  different  races. 

It  is  of  interest  to  note  that  the  states  having  a  large  percentage  of 
Scandinavians  also  have  a  large  percentage  of  "home-owners."  In  the 
table  given  below  comprising  those  states  where  more  than  55  per  cent, 
of  the  families  have  homes,  the  Scandinavians  are  prominent : 

Indiana     56.1        Over  55  per  cent. 

Kansas     59.1  "     " 

Montana    56.6  "     " 

'Nebraska     56.6  "     " 

*Iowa    60.0  "     " 

Maine     64.0  "     " 

'Michigan     62.3  "     " 

'Minnesota     63.5  "     " 

Nevada    66.2  "     " 

New  Mexico   68.5  "     " 

Utah 67.8  "     " 

Vermont     60.4  "     "         " 

'Wisconsin    66.4  "     " 

Oklahoma    71.8  "     " 

'South   Dakota    71.2  "     " 

'North  Dakota   80.0  "     " 

Similarly,  it  may  be  seen  from  the  following  table,  that  in  the 
production  of  wheat  and  butter,  they  rank  high: 

Wheat  production 

North   Dakota 73,200,000 

Kansas    51,387,000 

Washington     50,661,000 

Butter 

Iowa    139,022,552 

New    York    115,408,222 

Pennsylvania 111,358,246 

Wisconsin     106,552,649 

Ohio     87,638,930 

Illinois     86,548,762 

Michigan     67,872,710 

The  above  tables  are  extracts  from  the  following  tables,  which  give 
the  percentages  and  figures  in  full: 


IN  AMERICA 


65 


ABSTRACT  OF  TABLE  No.  26  OF  STATISTICAL  ABSTRACT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1911. 

Native 

Native 

Families 

white  of 

white  of 

Foreign 

having 

native 

foreign 

white. 

homes 

parentage. 

parentage. 

per  cent. 

Alabama     

....     1,177,457 

32,438 

18,946 

34.4 

Arizona    

82,480 

42,175 

46,844 

57.7 

Arkansas    

....     1,077,509 

36,608 

16,913 

47.7 

California    

....     1,106,533 

635,970 

517,319 

46.3 

Colorado    

475,136 

181,432 

126,971 

46.6 

Connecticut     

395,649 

374,546 

328,737 

39.0 

Delaware    

127,809 

25,873 

17,421 

36.3 

District   of   Columbia    .... 

166,711 

45,066 

24,351 

24.0 

Florida     

373,967 

35,828 

33,851 

46.8 

Georgia     

....     1,391,058 

25,677 

15,081 

30.6 

Idaho    

203,604 

75,254 

40,444 

71.6 

Illinois    

....     2,600,565 

1,724,489 

1,201,928 

45.0 

Indiana     

....    2,130,168 

350,747 

159,118 

56.1 

Iowa    

.  .  .  .     1,305,526 

632,182 

273,388 

60.5 

Kansas    

.  .  .  .     1,207,087 

292,077 

134,719 

59.1 

Kentucky     

.  .  .  .     1,863,157 

124,775 

40,023 

51.5 

Louisiana     

776,569 

112,728 

51,828 

31.4 

Maine    

494,918 

135,188 

109,911 

64.8 

Maryland     

766,628 

191,841 

104,176 

40.0 

Massachusetts     

1,103,361 

1,170,793 

1,050,899 

35.0 

Michigan    

....     1,224,841 

965,217 

595,200 

62.3 

Minnesota    

575,081 

941,315 

542,857 

63.5 

Mississippi     

....       757,233 

19,495 

9,391 

34.5 

Missouri     

....    2,387,909 

518,341 

228,695 

50.9 

Montana     

162,129 

106,811 

91,647 

56.6 

Nebraska    

642,075 

262,353 

175,883 

56.8 

Nevada     

35,313 

20,956 

18,102 

66.2 

New  Hampshire   

230,231 

103,118 

96,560 

53.9 

New  Jersey    

.  .  .  .     1,009,909 

777,859 

658,159 

34.3 

New  Mexico    

255,609 

26,331 

22,662 

68.5 

New   York    . 

....     3,230,154 

3,007,507 

2,729,260 

33.2 

North   Carolina    

....     1,485,705 

8.855 

5953 

46.6 

North  Dakota    

162,461 

251,256 

156,138 

80.0 

Ohio    

....    3,033,275 

1,024,377 

597,255 

52.5 

Oklahoma    

.  .  .  .     1,310,403 

94,044 

40.088 

71.8 

Oregon     

416,851 

135,241 

103,002 

58.7 

Pennsylvania    

....    4,222,616 

1,806,392 

1,438,752 

41.2 

Rhode  Island  

159,821 

194,646 

178,031 

28.6 

66 


SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 


South  Carolina   661,970  11,138  6,054  30.6 

South  Dakota 245,665  217,478  100,628  71.2 

Tennessee    1,654,606  38,367  18,460  46.3 

Texas    2,602,958  361,926  240,012  46.5 

Utah    171,671  131,527  63,404  67.8 

Vermont    229,382  75,055  49,861  60.4 

Virginia   1,325,238  37,943  26,628  48.8 

Washington    585,401  282,529  241,227  54.8 

West  Virginia  1,042,107  57,638  57,072  54.6 

Wisconsin    763,224  1,044,764  512,569  66.4 

Wyoming    80,711  32,497  27,165  55.2 


ABSTRACT  OF  TABLES  Nos.  86  AND  94  OF  STATISTICAL  ABSTRACT  OF  THE 
UNITED  STATES. 

Wheat 

production 

1911 


Alabama 345,000 

Alaska    

Arizona   

Arkansas     1,008,000 

California     8,640,000 

Colorado   8,274,000 

Connecticut    

Delaware    

Florida    

Georgia    1,740,000 

Hawaii     

Idaho    15,860,000 

Illinois   42,000,000 

Indiana 34,354,000 

Iowa     10,622,000 

Kansas     51,387,000 

Kentucky    9,906,000 

Louisiana    

Maine     

Maryland    9,378,000 

Massachusetts    

Michigan     18,450,000 

M:nnesota     43,943,000 

Mississippi    

Missouri    36,110,000 

Montana    12,299,000 


Butter 
production 

1900 
19,139,321 
200 

803,394 

21,753,833 

34,000,497 

6,499,121 

8,480,194 

2,599,838 

1,386,445 

15,160,454 

118,871 

2,952,886 

86,548,762 

54,595,879 

139,022,552 

59,837,255 

30,631,044 

4,918,229 

20,635,572 

11,638,378 

9,572,181 

67,872,710 

82,363,315 

18,929,761 

46,949,726 

2,488,310 


IN  AMERICA  67 

Nebraska    41,574,000  46,244,839 

Nevada    1,192,925 

New   Hampshire    11,419,881 

New  Jersey  7,219,882 

New    Mexico    1,262,000  313,003 

New    York    6,728,000  115,408,222 

North  Carolina 6,636,000  16,913,802 

North  Dakota  73,200,000  9,642,003 

Ohio  36,240,000  87,638,930 

Oklahoma     8,976,000  8,834,559 

Oregon    16,726,000  10,082,807 

Pennsylvania   17,402,000  111,358,246 

Rhode   Island   636,281 

South  Carolina  8,150,437 

South    Dakota    14,800,000  23,573,077 

Tennessee  8,280,000  29,299,519 

Texas     6,580,000  48,244,206 

Utah  5,025,000  5,331,336 

Vermont    41,288,087 

Virginia    9,000,000  20,076,351 

Washington      50,661,000  10,5/0,527 

West  Virginia    2,737,000  16,954,129 

Wisconsin    3,097,000  106,552,649 

Wyoming    918,054 


CHAPTER  VI. 

POLITICAL  AND  SOCIAL  INFLUENCE  OF  SCANDINAVIANS  ON  AMERICANS 
AND  OF  AMERICANS  ON  SCANDINAVIANS. 

Scandinavians  have  a  strong  liking  for  politics.  This  may  be  due 
to  the  psychologic  trait  they  have  for  discussions, — bickerings,  strifes 
and  their  love  for  political  freedom  generally. 

For  many  years  the  immigrants  from  the  Northern  countries  of 
Europe  were  staunch  Republicans,  party  loyalty  was  so  strong  that  any 
candidate  nominated  by  their  party  would  receive  all  but  a  few 
dissenting  votes.  It  would  appear  that  such  loyalty  is  incompatible 
with  their  spirit  of  independence,  yet  facts  sustained  the  statement 
throughout  the  first  generation.  In  many  rural  communities  the 
American  politician  often  referred  to  the  Scandinavian  as  his  "voting, 
cattle,"  by  ascertaining  who  was  the  accepted  clan  leader  and  obtaining 
his  support,  no  difficulty  was  experienced,  as  one  fellow  induced  others 
to  follow.  Hon.  John  L.  Gibbs,  in  an  address  delivered  at  Ellendale, 
Minnesota,  May  17,  1902,  said  of  the  political  situation  and  the 
Scandinavians :  "You  will  find  that  in  no  state  in  our  Union  have 
you  received  your  due.  Where  would  the  dominant  party  in  the  State 
of  Illinois  have  been  during  the  past  thirty  years  but  for  the  Scan 
dinavian  vote?  And  did  you  ever  hear  of  a  Scandinavian  being" 
placed  on  its  state  ticket  until  very  recently?  What  would  have  been 
the  result  of  our  state  of  Iowa?  You  know,  and  I  need  not  tell  you. 
A  few  years  since  a  Scandinavian  was  given  a  place  on  the  state  ticket 
and  four  years  ago  one  was  elected  to  Congress.  This  year  there  is  an 
effort  made  to  leave  him  at  home.  I  hope  it  will  not  succeed.  In  North 
Dakota  the  Scandinavians  outnumber  all  other  classes  combined,  and 
they  are  not  represented  in  either  house  of  Congress.  What  is  the 
situation  in  this  state?  Wre  Americans,  born  of  American  parentage, 
constitute  a  little  more  than  one-fifth  of  the  population.  I  think  we  hold 
more  than  one-fifth  of  the  offices.  Where  do  you  come  in?  The 

68 


IN  AMERICA  69 

three  branches  of  the  Scandinavian  family,  counting  those  born  of 
Scandinavian  parentage,  far  outnumber  us.  There  are  fourteen  elective 
state  officers,  counting  the  members  of  the  Supreme  Court.  The 
Scandinavians  hold  one.  Of  the  seven  members  of  Congress  there  is 
not  one  Scandinavian.  In  Wisconsin,  where  an  effort  is  being  made  to 
defeat  the  re-election  of  the  lone  Scandinavian  Congressman,  and  in 
all  the  Western  States  the  situation  is  similar  to  that  of  Minnesota." 

It  has  been  stated  that  immigrant  races  wish  to  conform  to  the 
dominant  race.  This  is  especially  true  of  the  Northern,  a  trait  which 
reveals  a  racial  weakness  and  which  is  seen  in  their  susceptibility  to 
flattery  at  the  hand  of  their  American  friends.  A  few  complimentary 
words  as  to  the  bravery  of  the  Normans  and  their  heroic  deeds  will 
bring  the  desired  result. 

However,  during  recent  years  this  has  changed,  clannishness  and 
dislike  for  the  American  politician  is  the  condition  to-day.  In  the 
state  of  Minnesota,  Wisconsin,  Iowa  and  the  Dakotas,  it  is  quiie  a 
political  asset  to  have  a  name  ending  in  "son."  In  an  article  under 
the  caption:  Minesota  by  George  Fitch.  Copyrighted,  1912,  by  the 
Globe,  the  author  humorously  writes  as  follows : 

"Minnesota  is  an  American  State  which  has  been  borrowed  by  the 
Norwegians  with  great  success.  Owing  to  its  steady  and  reliable 
winter  it  has  become  the  lifetime  resort  for  this  hardy  people  who 
raise  wheat,  white  whiskers,  and  American  citizens  with  great  fluency. 
Minnesota  now  has  over  two  million  people,  half  of  whom  have  names 
ending  in  'son/  ' 

Minnesota  produces  more  wheat,  iron  ore,  and  light-haired,  blue- 
eyed  statesmen  than  any  other  commonwealth.  It  has  a  state  university 
which  leads  the  world  in  the  production  of  Clydesdale  halfbacks,  and 
has  5,000  students,  all  trained  to  yell  'Ski-U-Mah'  in  unison  when  the 
team  scores  on  Michigan.  It  was  born  Republican,  but  was  recently 
captured  by  Colonel  Roosevelt  after  a  hard  tussle  with  neighbor  La 
Follette.  Besides,  Minnesota  has  contributed  Ignatius  Donnelly,  Adam 
Bede,  Knute  Nelson,  James  J.  Hill,  Archbishop  Ireland,  and  other 
interesting  citizens  to  its  country,  but  her  greatest  feat  in  citizen-pro 
ducing  was  John  A.  Johnson,  who  would  have  mixed  up  the  Democratic 
convention  at  Baltimore  more  than  ever,  had  he  lived.  Minnesota 


70  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

mourns  his  death  sincerely,  but  has  100,000  more  Johnsons  in  training 
and  will  yet  produce  a  president  of  that  name." 

As  to  their  views  of  government,  they  are  changing  from  the 
conservative  Republicans  to  the  "Progressives"  or  even  "Radicals/' 
Large  numbers  are  entering  the  ranks  of  the  Socialists.  Socialism 
and  political  independence  is  apparently  a  world  symptom,  it  asserts 
itself  in  Ireland,  France,  Germany  and  Scandinavia.  Algernon  Lee,  in 
the  January  Metropolitan,  1913,  pictures  what  he  calls  Progressive 
Scandinavia  thus : 

"Good  news  for  Socialist  and  Suffragists  has  come  from  the 
Scandinavian  countries.  The  general  election  in  Norway  brought 
defeat  to  the  coalition  of  Conservatives  and  so-called  Liberals  which 
has  been  in  power.  Their  representation  is  reduced  from  seventy-eight 
to  twenty- four,  that  of  the  Radicals  increased  from  thirty-three  to 
seventy -four,  and  that  of  the  Socialists  cast  126,000  votes  out  of  a  total 
of  478,000,  a  gam  of  35,000  over  their  previous  record.  The  Danish 
government  has  introduced  a  bill  which  gives  women  equal  political 
rights  with  them  and  reduces  the  voting  age  from  thirty  to  twenty-five. 
The  bill  will  be  carried  with  Socialist  and  Radical  support.  Iceland, 
which  is  a  Danish  dependency,  is  also  to  get  equal  suffrage. 

At  an  international  conference  recently  held  in  London,  one  of 
the  Norwegian  delegates,  Mr.  Braekstadt,  reported  that  in  his  country 
seventy  per  cent,  of  the  women  go  to  the  polls;  that  the  proportionate 
strength  of  the  parties  has  not  been  perceptibly  affected  by  the  exten 
sion  of  the  suffrage  to  women ;  but  that  the  female  voters  compel  atten 
tion  to  such  social  questions  as  child  wrelfare  and  the  housing  of  the 
people." 

Continuing  the  discussion  of  the  conditions  "at  home,"  we  may  say 
that  it  appears  that  their  liberty  loving  nature  is  beginning  to  assert 
itself  in  the  second  generation.  The  immigrants  were  obliged,  because 
of  their  ignorance  of  American  politics,  to  permit  leadership,  as  they 
were  trained  under  a  strict  government,  and  hence  had  acquired  a  law- 
abiding  nature,  forbidding  opposition  or  revolt.  From  "voting  cattle" 
to  racial  socialism  is  a  long  step,  and  whoever  takes  it,  goes  from  one 
extreme  to  another  extreme,  omitting-  the  necessary  intermediate  steps : 
that  the  Scandinavians,  to  some  extent  are  doing  this,  is  certain,  and 
may  be  the  result  of  the  restraint  or  bondage  under  which  they  have 


IN  AMERICA  71 

lived  for  a  considerable  time.  During  the  last  ten  years  the  Americans 
and  others  in  the  North  Central  States  have  had  to  endure  their  clan- 
nishness  in  every  campaign.  In  1894  the  Minnesota  legislature  had 
168  members,  of  which  47  were  Scadinavian  Republicans.  Similar  con 
ditions  have  continued,  but  the  proportion  of  Scandinavians  is  larger. 
Minnesota  has  had  four  Scandinavian  Governors ;  the  first  being  Knute 
Nelson,  now  United  States  Senator;  the  second,  John  Lind,  popularly 
called  "honest  John" ;  the  third  was  the  late  John  A.  Johnson ;  the 
fourth  and  present  Governor  is  Adolph  Eberhardt.  Of  the  four 
Governors  mentioned,  two  were  Republicans  and  two  Democrats. 
Their  independence  in  politics  is  clearly  seen  in  the  selection  of  two 
Democratic  Governors  in  a  state  which  is  normally  Republican  by  a 
majority  of  125,000  votes  or  more.  Their  independence  is  further  seen 
in  the  fact  that  the  Farmers'  Alliance,  the  People's  party,  the  Popufist 
party  and  the  recently  organized  National  Progressive  party  received 
a  very  substantial  vote  in  their  territory.  It  is  evident  from  the  above 
recited  facts  that  even  if  we  grant  they  are,  as  a  people,  Republican, 
they  move  about  from  party  to  party,  thus  exhibiting  the  same  char 
acteristic  that  is  seen  in  their  "vandrelyst"  and  Viking  nature  centuries 
ago. 

*v"'~^ 

The  patriotism  of  the  Scandinavians,  especially  the  Norwegians,  is 
of  a  peculiar  brand,  and  of  a  demonstrative  and  superficial  type, — this 
superficiality  may  also  explain  the  rapid  assimilation  when  emigrating 
to  other  countries.  The  so-called  language  question,  which  has  been 
discussed  so  ardently  for  many  years  in  Norway,  is  a  key  to  their  type 
of  patriotism.  The  one  side,  and  which  theratens  to  dominate,  con 
tends  that  it  is  not  the  trait  of  a  loyal  Norwegian  to  retain  the  present 
Norwegian  language,  as  it  is  originally  Danish,  hence  they  are  endeav 
oring  to  construct  a  language  of  the  many  "Bonde  dialects"  throughout 
the  rural  districts,  and  thus  provide  Norway  with  a  language  truly 
national.  The  present  Norwegian  language  of  Ibsen  and  Bjornsen  is 
strong  and  rich  in  expressions,  both  in  literature  and  science,  and 
should  be  left  undisturbed  to  the  natural  growth  peculiar  to  a  language. 

The  proposed  plan,  which  their  patriotism  demands  for  a  Nor 
wegian  language  is  a  distinct  step  backward  in  the  linguistic  field  and 
would  mean  the  adoption  of  an  inferior  and  more  primitive  language,  if 


72  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

the  term  may  be  applied.  American  patriotism  may  with  equal  propriety 
say  "we  do  not  wish  to  use  the  English  language  as  it  has  its  home  in 
England.  We  must  construct  a  language  which  is  our  own.  We  will 
go  to  the  original  Americans — the  Indians,  and  from  their  various  tribal 
dialects  construct  an  American  language,  or  even  better,  a  "United 
States  language.' '  The  folly  of  the  above  is  obvious. 

A  people  loyal  to  its  native  country  will  also  become  loyal  to  their 
adopted  country.  A  brief  review  of  the  history  of  American  wars, 
Revolutionary,  Civil  and  Mexican,  reveals  the  fact  that  numerous 
Northmen  were  among  the  brave  soldiers  who  defended  their  adopted 
land.  When  the  call  came  for  volunteers  at  the  time  of  the  Civil  War, 
they  responded  most  willingly,  and  furnished  many  thousand  men  to  our 
American  army.  During  the  Civil  War  they  were  nearly  all  found  in 
the  Northern  camps,  as  they  resided  in  that  territory.  As  complete 
details  and  statistics  cannot  be  given,  a  few  figures  will  be  submitted 
to  show  their  activity  and  usefulness  in  the  preservation  of  the  Union. 

Martin  Ulvestad,  in  his  work  entitled  "Normaendene  I  Amerika," 
gives  the  following  information:  Norway  has  given  3  colonels  to  our 
American  wars;  27  majors;  52  captains;  76  lieutenants;  154  sergeants; 
219  corporals,  and  4,042  soldiers. 

The  man  receiving  special  mention,  was  Hans  C.  Heg,  born  in 
Norway  in  1829,  emigrated  to  America  in  1840,  and  chose  Muskogee, 
Wisconsin,  as  his  place  of  residence.  In  1861,  the  beginning  of  the 
Civil  War,  the  Governor  of  Wisconsin  appointed  Mr.  Heg  as  the 
colonel  cf  the  15th  Wisconsin  Regiment.  Mr.  Heg  was  killed  in  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga.  At  this  place  the  United  States  Government 
has  erected  a  monument  in  his  honor,  which  cost  $25,000,  the  inscription 
is  as  follows:  "Hans  C.  Heg,  Col.  of  the  15th  Wisconsin;  Command 
ing  3rd  Brigade,  Davis'  Division;  mortally  wounded  about  4  P.  M., 
September  19,  1863." 

The  15th  Wisconsin  Regiment  (volunteers)  was  one  of  the  ablest 
regiments  in  the  entire  army.  It  is  reported  that  General  Howard  said 
of  this  regiment,  "I  wish  we  had  a  brigade  of  such  men."  It  was 
universally  known,  as  it  was  ordered  from  place  to  place,  always  to 
the  most  dangerous  borders.  The  popular  name  of  these  valiant 
fighters  for  the  Union  was  "The  Scandinavian  Regiment."  The  above 


IN  AMERICA  73 

information  as  to  the  activities  of  the  Scandinavians  is  very  brief,  but 
is  sufficient  to  establish  the  fact  that  they  were  a  factor  in  our  political 
life  at  the  time  of  our  wars. 

rti-Xi 

The  social  and  cultural  influence  of  the  Northmen  is  not  -as- 
clearly  seen  as  their  political  influence.  Participation  in  politics  and 
state  affairs  requires  less  preparation,  as  it  becomes  a  part  of  every 
man's  life.  The  condition  of  their  social  and  cultural  status,  though 
manifesting  itself  at  an  early  date  in  its  native  character,  has  not  made 
a  visible  impression  upon  the  American.  When  arriving  in  this  country, 
they  were  obliged  to  utilize  all  their  time  and  efforts  to  establish  a 
home.  For  this  reason  little  time  was  left  for  their  social  side  and 
was  mostly  limited  to  a  narrow  circle  of  fellow  immigrants.  The 
difficult  -conditions  under  which  they  had  to  develop,  prohibited  any 
great  activities  beyond  their  daily  endeavors  to  obtain  a  living.  For 
this  reason  literature,  mostly  descriptive  of  American  conditions,  began 
to  appear  in  1838.  The  Scandinavians  have  always  recognized  that 
the  production  of  Scandinavian  literature  on  American  soil,  has  been 
a  minimum.  The  ability  to  break  and  improve  the  wild  prairies,  to 
'  grub"  in  our  woods  and  to  write  books,  is  not  to  be  found  in  the  same 
man.  A  further  fact  may  be  added,  explaining  the  limited1  supply  of 
literature.  The  immigrants  belonged  largely  to  the  laboring  class,  and 
as  a  consequence,  only  a  very  few  had  any  higher  education.  The 
number  of  books  and  pamphlets  published  by  Norwegians  in  America, 
up  to  the  year  1907,  Martin  Ulvestad  in  his  book,  "Normaendene  I 
Amerika,"  gives  as  491. 

Valdemar  Ager,  Editor  of  "Reform,"  must  be  placed  at  the  begin 
ning  of  the  list.  Mr.  Ager  has  written  several  works  which  have  been 
well  received  at  home  and  in  Norway.  Professor  R.  B.  Andersen, 
Editor  of  "Amerika"  has  written  several  works,  some  appearing 
in  the  Norwegian  and  some  in  the  English  language;  the  Norwegians 
being  "Nordisk  Mytologi" ;  "Amerika  Tkke  Opdaget  af  Columbus"; 
"Julegave";  and  "Bygdejsevninger."  The  English  works  are:  "The 
Edda";  "Viking  Tales  of  The  North,"  and  the  "First  Chapter  of 
Norwegian  Immigration."  Attorney  J.  W.  Arctender,  of  Minneapolis, 
likewise  has  written  several  works,  the  most  important  being  his 
"Praktiske  Haandbog  I  Staten  Minnesota's  Lovgivning,"  625  pages. 
From  the  pen  of  A.  Asperheim  we  have  "Darvinismen,  eller  Evolution 


74  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL  FORCE 

og  Evolutionstheorier."  O.  M.  Nordlie,  Ph.D.,  "A  Guide  to  Literary 
Study."  O.  N.  Nelson,  "History  of  the  Scandinavians,"  2  vol.,  and 
R.  Andersen,  Associate  Editor  of  "Danske  I  Amerika."  To  continue 
and  enumerate  the  entire  number  of  books  and  pamphlets  is  unneces 
sary.  The  above  are  among  the  best,  and  shows  a  variety  of  subjects, 
however,  the  greatest  number  is  by  far  on  religious  subjects,  and  a 
comparatively  large  supply  of  hymnals  and  song  books  are  in  the 
market.  It  is  evident  that  the  influence  of  the  Scandinavian  American 
literature  is  very  limited  beyond  their  own  people. 

As  in  literature,  so  in  journalism  we  have  a  large  number  of 
papers  with  a  corresponding  number  of  editors,  the  largest  percentage 
of  whom  are  only  partially  successful.  "Nordlyset"  was  the  first  Nor 
wegian  paper  issued  in  America,  beginning  in  1847.  From  that  time 
until  1907,  234  papers  have  been  started,  of  which  about  82  are  in 
existence.  The  total  subscribers  being  approximately  350,000.  Their 
papers  are  generally  published  in  the  interest  of  "news,"  some  par 
ticipating  in  the  discussion  of  the  political  issues.  Of  the  last  mentioned, 
there  were  17  supporting  the  Republican  party;  2,  the  Prohibition 
party,  and  2,  the  Socialistic  party.  It  has  been  stated  that,  generally 
speaking,  Scandinavians  were  Republicans.  It  is  now  noticed  that  their 
papers  are  in  favor  of  the  Republican  party;  the  last  fact  to  a  certain 
degree  accounts  for  the  first.  One  of  the  most  important  Norwegian 
American  papers  is  the  "Decorah-Posten,"  whose  owner,  B.  Amundsen, 
died  March  25,  1913.  Mr.  Amundsen  began  the  publication  of  his 
paper  in  1874;  it  is  published  twice  a  week.  Another  paper  whose 
influence  in  the  political  life  of  the  Scandinavians  has  been  greater 
than  probably  any  other  factor,  is  "Skandinaven,"  a  Republican  political 
paper.  Its  publication  began  in  1866,  the  owner  and  editor  being  John 
Andersen.  At  first  it  was  a  weekly  paper,  at  present  it  is  published 
as  a  daily  with  8  pages,  as  a  Sunday  paper,  16  pages,  and  on  Wednes 
days  and  Fridays,  12  pages.  The  Press  as  the  literature,  has  a  large 
percentage  of  religious  publications. 

The    Scandinavians   do   not  exercise  any   great   religious   influence 

beyond  their  "own  people."     The   Scandinavians  are,   with   a   compar- 

\l  atively  few  exceptions,  Lutherans,  and  as  it  is  not  a  practice  of  the  said 

church  to  proselyte  nor  to  tolerate  proselyting,  this  trait  may  explain 

why  their  influence  is  limited.     The  books  and  papers  published  in  the 


IN  AMERICA  75 

interest  of  their  religion  depend  exclusively  upon  the  membership  of 
the  churches  for  their  support.  No  attempt  is  being  made  to  obtain 
subscribers  beyond  their  own  creed.  Another  feature  of  their  religious 
practice  is  the  absence  of  any  endeavor  to  make  their  churchly  influence 
extend  beyond  the  Scandinavian  people.  Until  recently,  their  services 
have  been  conducted  in  the  Scandinavian  languages,  a  condition  which 
prevent*  Americans  from  attending  their  places  of  worship.  During 
the  last  ten  years,  however,  rapid  strides  have  been  made  towards  the 
adoption  of  the  American  language.  At  the  last  annual  meeting,  Th. 
Dahl,  D.L>.,  President  of  the  United  Lutheran  Church  of  America,  the 
largest  independent  Scandinavian  Church  body,  stated  in  his  annual 
report  that  with  rare  exceptions,  all  churches  in  the  cities  or  rural 
districts  demand  a  pastor  with  a  nearly  perfect  command  of  the 
English  language.  He  further  stated  that  if  this  present  tendency 
continues,  it  will  be  only  a  matter  of  a  very  few  years  before  we  are 
unable  to  supply  "calls"  to  a  clergyman  not  familiar  with  the  American 
language.  The  second  generation,  being  a  part  of  of  America  in  a  sense 
which  the  emigrants  could  not  be,  will  naturally  bring  the  influence  of 
their  church  to  bear  on  American  conditions  in  a  different  way  than 
what  their  parents  did;  hence  it  is  reasonable  to  expect  a  greater 
influence  of  the  Church  of  Scandinavia  from  now  on,  than  what  has 
been  evident  to  this  time. 

One  of  the  important  means  through  which  the  Scandinavians 
have  sought  to  prepare  and  to  keep  youth  for  their  church,  their 
people,  and  generally  to  make  good  citizens  for  their  adopted  land,  is 
their  schools.  The  Scandinavians  rank  high  in  educational  privileges,  .  . 
the  illiteracy  being  less  than  one  per  cent.  Nearly  all  their  schools  are 
religious  or  Church  Schools,  as  they  wish  to  obtain  a  clergy  ("minis 
try")  linguistically  qualified  to  administer  to  our  people  in  the  English 
tongue.  The  present  period  is  considered  a  transition  period,  hence 
schools  are  so  arranged  that  they  give  instruction  in  the  American 
and  Scandinavian  languages.  It  is  likewise  one  of  the  chief  aims  of 
their  schools  and  colleges  to  train  men  for  the  ministry.  This  they 
appeared  to  accomplish  until  recently,  but  at  present  they  claim  that  a 
decided  change  has  come  over  the  spirit  of  the  schools,  and  even  the 
church  colleges.  Dr.  Singmatser  of  Gettysburg,  declared  that  "It 
appears  now  to  be  difficult  for  a  young  person  who  is  a  Christian  to 


76  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

pass  through  the  college  and  remain  a  Christian.  I  am  always  more 
or  less  concerned  about  a  Christian  young  man  who  enters  a  college, 
as  to  what  effect  it  will  have  on  his  religious  life."  The  reason  why 
the  colleges  have  lost  comparatively  their  influence,  is  attributed  to  the 
spirit  of  the  times.  Religion  is  taken  less  seriously  by  most  Christians 
than  what  it  was  in  past  years.  Pastor  Singmaster,  in  the  United 
Lutheran,  Vol.  6,  No.  3,  says  "College  professors  complain  that  the  boys 
and  girls  that  come  from  the  high  schools  do  not  know  how  to  study. 
I  wish  to  say  that  nine-tenths  of  the  college  graduates  that  come  to 
the  seminary  do  not  know  how  to  study ;  they  cannot  study,  for  they 
had  never  learned  how."  He  describes  the  remedy  as  putting  first  things 
first ;  i.  e.,  "The  body  must  not  be  neglected,  but  must  not  be  oermitted  to 
absorb  the  greatest  share  of  attention.  In  our  Church  College  there  must 
be  harmonious  development  of  the  whole  man.  This  harmonious  develop 
ment,  will,  probably,  demand  the  first  place  for  the  spiritual,  the  second, 
for  the  intellectual,  and  the  third  for  the  material.  No  young  man  or 
woman  should  be  permitted  to  go  from  the  college  without  being  a 
|  Christian,  if  it  is  at  all  possible  to  make  them  such."  It  is  a  contention 
of  the  Scandinavian  Lutheran  Church  that  the  state  and  the  church 
need  men  and  women  who  have  a  right  heart  and  a  right  spirit. 
There  is  no  greater  need  upon  us  as  a  nation  with  a  great  destiny, 
than  citizens  whose  hearts  and  lives  are  touched  with  fire  from  the 
sacred  altar  of  God  Himself.  The  training  and  education  of  the 
millions  of  boys  and  girls  in  the  love  and  fear  of  God  is  considered 
as  the  basic  question,  the  trusts  and  the  tariff  are  secondary.  United 
Lutheran,  Vol.  5,  No.  39,  page  616 — "The  moment  you  dethrone  God 
in  the  mind  of  the  child  and  teach  it  that  there  is  no  God  whom  it 
must  fear,  love  and  trust  above  all  things;  the  moment  you  teach  a 
child  and  the  youth  that  the  universe  is  run  by  a  Nondescript  Force 
or  Energy,  and  that  the  Source  and  all  known,  is  not  a  personal  God 
but  an  original  cell  or  a  protoplasm  or  nebula,  out  of  which  all  things 
have  evolved  and  developed,  that  moment  you  are  doing  the  work  of 
an  anarchist;  you  are  trying  to  blow  up  not  only  the  Church,  but  the 
State  as  well."  It  is  recognized  that  native  Americans  have  great 
respect  for  true  religion.  "It  is  only  the  spurious  and  the  hypocritical 
that  he  hates.  .  .  .  Leading  and  thinking  Americans  rejoice  in 
every  school,  great  or  small,  which  installs  religion  pure  and  undefiled." 


IN  AMERICA 


77 


Their  schools  are  made  attractive.  Professors  are  employed  during 
their  summer  vacations  to  travel  and  plead  the  cause  of  the  schools 
throughout  the  communities.  Liberal  support  of  the  schools  is  strongly 
urged  and  endowment  funds  are  being  raised,  and  every  attempt  is 
made  to  have  them  placed  on  a  sound  basis;  to  make  the  schools  more 
attractive,  rates  are  very  low.  The  following  is  an  estimate  of  the 
expense  for  a  school  year,  as  prepared  by  Professor  J.  N.  Kildahl,  D.D., 
President  of  St.  Olaf's  College,  Northfield,  Minnesota: 


Low  Average 

estimate.        estimate. 

1.  Board     $90.00  $90.00-$  105.00 

2.  Room  rent  18.00  26.00 

3.  Tuition    36.00  36.00 

4.  Incidentals    10.00  10.00 

5.  Gymnasium    fee    4.00          4.00 

6.  Library  fee   1.00          1.00 

7.  Books  and  school  supplies  16.00  20.00 

8.  Laundry    15.00  20.00 

9.  Athletics    2.50  10.00 

10.  Society  and  class  dues   1.00          3.00 

11.  Concert,  lecture  and  other  tickets 2.50         4.00 

12.  Church   dues  and  collections    2.00         3.00 

13.  Extra  furniture  and  room  decorations      ....          6.00 

14.  Social   affairs 2.00 

15.  Incidental     expenses     and     spending 

money    10.00  25.00 


'  Liberal 
estimate. 

$125.00 
36.00-  $45.00 
36.00 
10.00 

4.00 

1.00 
25.00 
25.00 
15.00 

5.00 

6.00 

5.00 
10.00 

5.00 

50.00 


16.     Clothing 


$208.00    $260.00-$275.00    $358.00-$367.00 
40.00       60.00  100.00 


$248.00    $320.00-$335.00    $458.00-$467.00 

To  the  above  should  be  added  laboratory  fees,  which  come  to  $8.00 
annually  for  Chemistry,  $6.00  for  Biology,  $5.00  for  Physics,  and  $2.00 
for  Botany. 

The  schools  with  their  curriculums  may  be  classified  as  follows: 
Normal  Schools  and  Teachers'  Seminaries:  Algebra,  Arithmetic,  Bible 
History,  Bible-Study,  Bookkeeping,  Botany,  English  Literature,  United 
States  History,  Physiology,  Geography,  Geometry,  Grammar,  Cate- 
chetics,  Church  History,  Reading,  Music,  Natural  Philosophy,  History 


78 


SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 


of  Norway,  Norwegian,  Pedagogy,  Civil  Government,  Religion,  Rhet 
oric,  Singing,  Art  Writing,  Spelling,  Symbolics,  Ethics,  General 
History. 

Academies:  Algebra,  Arithmetic,  Civil  Government,  English, 
United  States  History,  Physics,  Geography  (Political  and  Physical), 
Geometry,  Grammar,  Latin,  History  of  Norway,  Norwegian,  Pedagogy, 
Calculation,  Religion,  Penmanship,  Ethics,  German,  General  History, 
Economics. 

Business  Schools:  Bookkeeping,  Commercial  Law,  Theory  and 
Practice  (in  various  branches)  Grammar,  Correspondence,  Civil  Gov 
ernment,  Penmanship,  Spelling,  Punctuation,  Stenography,  Typewriting. 

Colleges:  Algebra,  Arithmetic,  Bookkeeping,  Civil  Government, 
Botany,  English,  United  States  History,  French,  Physics,  Physiology, 
Geography,  Geometry,  Grammar,  Greek,  Hebrew,  Chemistry,  Latin, 
Mathematics,  Music,  History  of  Norway,  Norwegian,  Religion,  Singing, 
Penmanship,  Drawing,  German,  Ancient  and  Modern  History,  Soci 
ology,  Psychology. 

Seminaries:  Dogmatics,  Old  Testament,  Hebrew,  Church  History, 
Liturgy,  New  Testament,  Pastoral-Theology,  Preaching  (Norwegian 
and  English),  Symbolics,  Ethics,  Apologetics,  Hermeneutics,  Propae 
deutics. 

Below  is  a  table  giving  the  year  of  founding,  and  a  summary  of 
statistics  of  the  various  schools  for  the  year  1912,  of  Norwegian 

Lutheran  institutions  as  prepared  by  Dr.  O.  M.  Nordlie : 


THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARIES. 


United  Church  Seminary  1893 

Luther    Seminary    1876 

Red   Wing    Seminary    1870 

Augsburg  Seminary   1869 

Wahpeton  Bible  School   (see  below) 1903 


6  X 

to 
01 

o 
d 

en 

?! 

a| 
§1 

i 

•o 
d 

0) 

j-i 
il 

1 

8 

H 

O 

< 

H 

330 

19 

87 

10 

437 

21 

53 

5 

? 

9 

28 

3 

372 

8 

29 

4 

Total    1,137 


57 


197 


22 


IN  AMERICA  79 

NORMAL  SCHOOLS. 

Madison  Lutheran  Normal   1892  274  32  153             8 

Sioux  Falls  Lutheran  Normal   1889  250  14  202           10 

Total    524  46  355  18 

COLLEGES. 

St.  Olaf  College 1886  393  43  261           32 

Augustana  College    1860  2        8 

Concordia    College    , 1891  

Spokane   College    1907  ?  ? 

Luther   College    1861  615  12  107           18 

Park  Region  Luther  College   1892  3  3  25 

Red   Wing  Ladies'    Seminary    1894  2  ....  9 

Red  Wing  Seminary  1879  10  43  11 

Augsburg    Seminary    1869  224  9  53           11 

Total    1,239  77  506  72 

ACADEMIES. 

Augustana  College   1860  328  37  208           11 

Camrose  College    1911  ....  91 

Columbia  College  1909  24  6  86           10 

Concordia   College    1891  315  20  280           16 

Pleasant  View  Lutheran  College  1896  213  16  104             6 

St.  Olaf  College  Academy   1874  557  41  258 

Scandinavia  Academy   1890  276  18  103             6 

Spokane   College    1907  18 

Waldorf  College   1903  237  37  291            11 

Bruflat  Academy  1889  112  21  95 

Clifton  Lutheran  College  1896  24  7  82 

Gale  College   1901  143  19  78             6 

Luther    Academy    1888 

Luther  College  Academy   1861  10  107 

Northwestern  College    1910  1  1  56 

Pacific  Lutheran   Academy    1894  160  14  176             8 

Park  Region  Lutheran  College   1892  300  24  178           15 

Preus  Academy   1901  107  60  6 

Red  Wing  Ladies'  Seminary 1894  286  40  157           24 

Willmar   Seminary   1882  400  23  165             6 

Wittenberg    Academy    1901  145  15  124 

Jewell   College    1893  174  16  178           12 


80  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A    SOCIAL   FORCE 

Red  Wing  Seminary   1879  ?  13  69 

Augsburg    Seminary    1869  367  9  81         

Bethania  College   1904  30  6  87  8 

Oak  Grove  Ladies'  Seminary  1896  32  9  90  7 

Wahpeton  Bible  School   1903  24  6  58  4 

Total 4,355         415       3,262          199 

United  Church  Schools (11) 3,049          269       1,930          128 

Norwegian  Synod   Schools. .  (14) 2,985          231        1,674          123 

Hauges   Synod   Schools (2) 174  48         318  26 

Free    Church    Schools (3) 1,025  41          340  30 

Eielsen    Synod    Schools (0) 

Brethren   Synod   Schools. ...(  1) 24  6  58  4 

Total    7,257         595       4,270         311 

The  estimated  cost  for  a  school  year,  as  was  seen  on  the  previous 
page,  is  very  low.  It  is  common  to  judge  the  quality  of  an  article  by 
the  price  paid  for  it.  If  the  quality  of  the  schools  are  based  upon  the 
estimated  cost,  we  should  not  hope  to  find  the  Scandinavian  schools 
in  the  first  class.  The  cost  stated  for  a  school  year,  including  clothing, 
varied  from  $248  to  $467,  does  not  cover  the  actual  expense  for  the 
maintenance  of  a  college.  The  deficit  is  covered  by  an  appropriation 
from  the  Church  body  to  which  the  school  may  belong,  or  if  not 
belonging  to  a  church  organization,  the  deficit  is  provided  by  special 
contributions.  The  two  sources,  however,  combined,  the  receipts  from 
students  and  the  appropriations,  are  generally  reduced  to  the  minimum, 
leaving  hardships  to  the  various  institutions;  this  being  true,  the 
equipments  are  often  far  from  complete;  as  it  is  necessary  to  economize 
in  the  equipment,  so  it  is  necessary  to  engage  teachers  at  the  lowest 
possible  salary,  and  as  a  man's  charity  cannot  continue  to  sacrifice  the 
necessaries  of  life  for  any  length  of  time,  the  result  is  frequent  changes 
in  the  faculty,  only  a  very  few  being  sufficiently  paid  to  continue  at 
their  post.  Another  feature  in  the  selection  of  teachers,  is,  that  teaching 
qualifications  are  often  sacrificed  for  other  qualities  which,  in  the 
opinion  of  a  lay  board,  may  be  more  necessary.  For  this  reason  there 
are  not  many  experts  found  in  the  various  departments  of  their  colleges. 
A.  further  handicap  to  the  instructor  is  the  fact  that  he  may  be  obliged 
to  teach  in  two  or  more  separate  departments.  During  the  last  ten 


IN  AMERICA  81 

years  the  Scandinavian  colleges  have  made  great  progress,  the  second 
generation  having  been  trained  in  the  American  colleges  and  univer 
sities,  often  return  to  the  schools  of  their  church,  advocating  American 
university  methods.  Another  decade  will  surely  further  enhance  their 
efficiency. 

The  Scandinavians,  in  addition  to  their  schools,  have  a  large  num 
ber  of  charitable  institutions,  usually  under  the  control  of  their  various 
church  parties,  it  being  their  desire  to  administer  to  their  members 
both  to*  body  and  soul. 

A  statistical  report  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  Benevolent  Institu 
tions  as  prepared  by  Dr.  Nordlie  is  herewith  appended: 

1  i  la       *  • 

8  «  &3  o £ 

Gt  <n  +7     oj  "> 

DEACONESS  HOMES.  8      «g  %      *g  *" 

tt  tt   P  ! 

Chicago,    111 1879  23  51  10  75 

Minneapolis,  Minn 1890  9  28  2  16        

Brooklyn,  N.  Y 1884  18  13  5  36        .... 


HOSPITALS. 
Deaconess,  Chicago    111 

1897 

23 

51 

10 

75 

1,605 

St.  John's    Sioux  City    la 

11 

377 

St.  Olaf,  Austin,   Minn  

..     1896 

7 

3 

327 

Bethesda,   Crookston,   Minn  

.  .     1898 

2 

10 

2 

6 

247 

St.  Luke's,  Fergus  Falls,  Minn.. 
Heron  Lake,  Minn  

.  .     1903 
....  1903 

1 

14 
12 

6 

5 

11 

400 
1,000 

Ebenezer,  Madison,  Minn  

..     1902 

1 

6 

426 

Deaconess,   Minneapolis,  Minn.    . 
Thomas,  Minneapolis,  Minn  
Luther,  St.  Paul,  Minn  

.  .     1890 
..     1907 
..     1902 

9 

28 
11 
16 

2 

4 

16 
33 

1,354 
214 
729 

Deaconess,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y  

..     1884 

18 

13 

5 

36 

1,425 

St.  Luke's,  Fargo,  N.  D  

..     1905 

3 

25 

6 

16 

776 

Deaconess   Grafton   N   D 

1903 

Deaconess,  Grand  Forks,  N.  D. 
Deaconess,  Northwood,  N.  D  

.  .     1891 
..     1902 

1 
1 

•> 

5 

•f 

5 

9 

10 

523 

411 

Good  Samaritan,  Rugby,  N.   D  .  . 
Lutheran,  Sioux  Falls,  S.  D 
Luther,  Eau  Claire,  Wis  

.  .     1910 
..     1907 

2 

10 
16 
20 

7 
4 

40 
10 

383 
550 
646 

Lutheran,  La  Crosse.  Wis. 

1902 

35 

7 

43 

2,670 

82  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

ORPHANAGES,  as  follows: 

Year  No.  of 

Opened  Inmates. 

Norwegian  Lutheran,  Chicago,  111 1891 

Evangelical  Lutheran  Receiving  Home,  Chicago..  1905  .... 

Beloit,  Wis 1890  164 

Lake    Park,    Minn 1895  102 

Wild  Rice,  Twin  Valley,  Minn 1891 

Bethesda,    Willmar,    Minn 1898  50 

Bethesda,   Beresford,   S.   D 1896  51 

Parkland,    Wash 1900 

Martha  and  Maria,  Poulsbo,  Wash 1892  

Martin  Luther,   Stoughton,  Wash 1889  

Homme,  Wittenberg,  Wis 1880  77 

Brevig,  Port  Clarence,  Alaska   1900  

HOMES  FOR  THE  AGED,  as  follows: 

Norwegian  Old  People's,  Chicago,  111 1896 

Bethesda,  Willmar,  Minn 1905  15 

Northwood,  N.   D 1910  11 

Poulsbo,   Wash 

Josephine,  Stanwood,  Wash ....  .... 

Stoughton,    Wis 1889  .... 

Homme,  Wittenberg,  Wis 1880  42 

LUTHERAN  HOSPICE  FOR  WOMEN,  at — 

Minneapolis,  Minn 1907  

RESCUE  SHELTER — 

Martha  Maria  Mission  Home,  St.  Paul   1908  

SLUM  MISSION,  at — 

Brooklyn,   N.  Y 

IMMIGRANT  AND  SEAMEN'S  MISSIONS,  at — 

Brooklyn,   N.  Y 1890 

New  York,  N.  Y 1905 

New  York,  N.  Y 1866 

Galveston,    Texas    1911 

The  data  given  relative  to  the  schools  and  benevolent  institutions 
cover  only  those  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran 
Church  bodies.  It  is  deemed  unnecessary  to  add  any  further  statistics, 
as  those  of  the  Swedes  and  Danes  would  largely  be  a  duplication. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

PROBABLE  INFLUENCE  ON  FUTURE  MAKING  OF  THE  "AMERICAN  RACE" 

THROUGH   IMMIGRANTS  IN  GENERAL  AND  THROUGH 

SCANDINAVIANS  IN   PARTICULAR 

It  has  been  argued  at  some  length  in  a  former  chapter  that  the 
American  nation  is  yet  in  its  "making/'  The  formative  process  is  in 
progress  and  not  completed.  A  great  variety  of  individuals  comprising 
our  nation,  from  the  American  Indian  to  the  lowest  of  the  immigrants, 
claim  a  right  to  protection  under  the  "Stars  and  Stripes."  True,  many 
of  the  immigrants  may  continue  to  show  honor  to  the  flag  of  their 
"native  land,"  but  America  guarantees  its  foster  sons  and  daughter 
"life,  liberty,  and  pursuit  of  happiness."  What  the  foster  children 
have  given  in  return  for  this  guarantee  is  not  easily  ascertained  from 
the  cultural  standpoint.  Considered  from  the  agricultural  and  political 
sides,  more  definite  figures  are  obtainable,  showing  their  achievements 
in  these  lines. 

A  history  analyzing  the  American  culture  has  not  yet  been  written, 
hence  the  contribution  of  our  various  nationalities,  as  mentioned,  is  not 
distinctly  seen.  America  has  been  obliged  to  work  out  its  own  salva 
tion,  as  it  has  been  forced  to  contend  with  the  assimilation  of  the 
undesirables  from  foreign  countries.  "The  dumping  ground,"  as  the 
United  States  is  often  considered,  has  until  recently  made  only  a  limited 
selection.  It  has  accepted  the  good  and  the  bad,  ano^endeavorfi^ to 
make  the  best  out  of  them  and  fit  them  into  the  American  conditions. 
If  we  are  to  accept  the  perverted  and  the  criminals  as  representatives 
of  the  culture  of  their  countries,  we  fail  to  obtain  the  true  kind  of 
culture  found  in  the  people  represented  by  these  classes.  It  is  often 
said  that  crime  knows  no  creed  nor  nationality — examples,  the  con 
stituency  in  the  recent  police  scandals — this  being  true,  we  can 
understand  why  foreign  traits  are  not  more  easily  discernable  in  our 
American  characteristics.  It  may  appear  from  the  above  that  the 

83 


84  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

immigrants  belong  exclusively  to  the  undesirable  classes,  a  fact  which 
could  not  be  sustained.  However,  it  is  true  that  a  large  percentage 
of  the  immigrants  belong  to  the  less  desirable  classes;  especially  was 
this  true  until  recent  years  when  immigration  laws  have  become  more 
rigid  and  exclude  many  which  formerly  were  accepted.  This  means  a 
change  in  our  immigrants.  If  we  consider  that  hitherto  we  have 
received  the  "unfittest,"  we  may  state  that  we  are  now  by  selection 
admitting  the  "fittest."  That  this  must  have  an  effect  upon  the 
American  nation  cannot  be  denied.  The  raising  of  the  standard  brings 
a  better  class  of  immigrants  to  our  shores  from  their  respective  foreign 
countries.  People  now  emigrate,  not  to  escape  punishment,  but  because 
they  seek  something  better;  the  different  qualities  and  the  two  kinds 
will  bring  different  results  to  their  adopted  land.  If  we  were  to 
compare  the  immigrant  classes  of  to-day  with  those  of  ten  years  or 
more  ago,  on  a  basis  of  nationalities,  we  would  be  compelled  to  state 
that  the  nations  emigrating  to  our  shores  at  present  represent  a  lower 
class.  In  the  argument,  however,  just  discussed,  the  classification  was 
based  on  higher  or  lower  types  of  individuals  belonging  to  the  same 
nation.  The  fact  is,  then,  that  we  receive  better  immigrants  from  all 
nations  to-day  than  formerly,  also  that  we  receive  more  immigrants  from 
countries  of  southern  Europe  universally  accepted  as  inferior  to  those 
of  Northern  Europe  and  who  furnished  the  mass  of  immigrants  until 
recent  years.  The  effect  of  this  change — the  selection  of  the  fittest,  but 
generally  of  the  lower  type,  is  hard  to  forecast.  It  is  a  new  paragraph 
of  new  conditions  to  be  written  in  the  American  history;  as  yet  it  is 
unwritten.  The  number  of  immigrants  has  on  the  whole  been  increas 
ing,  although  the  last  two  or  three  years  show  a  slight  decrease.  In 
endeavoring  to  establish  the  influence  of  present  immigration,  the  char 
acter  of  the  number  of  immigrants  must  be  considered.  Another  factor 
connected  with  the  influence  of  immigration,  is  the  present  condition  of 
America.  If  it  is  more  receptive  than  formerly,  a  greater  impress  will 
be  made  by  the  foreign  factor.  On  the  other  hand,  if  it  is  more  stable, 
it  will  be  less  susceptible.  Granting  that  the  latter  is  the  condition, 
we  may  draw  the  conclusion  that  the  assimilating  power  of  our 
country  to-day  is  greater  than  formerly,  and  the  influence  of  the  immi 
grant  less  noticeable.  We  must  not  infer  that  the  immigrant  and  the 
American  conditions,  however,  are  such  that  the  influence  is  eliminated. 


IN  AMERICA  85 

Every  human  being  is  a  factor  and  must  be  counted  in  the  make-up  of 
society.  As  he  mingles  with  fellow  men  he  becomes  a  social  force. 
This  being  true,  if  we  have  the  welfare  of  future  society  at  heart  in  our 
country,  we  should  continue  the  selective  process  as  to  our  immigrants. 
The  greater  the  number,  the  greater  the  force,  hence  reduce  the  number 
of  the  undesirables,  believing  that  all  countries  have  some  good  to  be 
imparted  and  inculcated  into  American  society,  let  us  raise  the  standard 
for  admission,  as  by  so  doing  we  again  eliminate  the  unfit  and  select 
the  fittest. 

In  the  mass  of  immigrants  coming  to  our  country  subject  to  the 
conditions  just  mentioned,  we  have  the  Scandinavians.  That  their 
influence  on  the  cultural  life  of  America  can  be  large,  is  not  to  be 
expected  for  various  reasons,  the  first  being  the  general  reason  above 
stated ;  namely,  that  American  conditions  are  more  firmly  established ; 
che  second  reason  is  that  they  Americanize  too  rapidly  and  hence  cease 
to  be  an  independent  social  force  too  soon;  the  third  reason  is  that  we 
receive  numerically  a  far  less  number  per  year  from  Scandinavian 
countries  than  formerly.  The  reason  for  this  being  that  conditions  in 
Scandinavian  countries  have  improved  and  offer  more  opportunities,  and 
the  conditions  in  America  have  become  less  favorable  to  the  immigrant, 
hence  little  is  gained  by  the  Scandinavian  who  comes  to  our  country. 

The  Scandinavian  activities  in  the  North  Central  States  is  exten 
sive.  They  aim  to  build  securely  and  establish  such  landmarks  in  their 
path  as  shall  not  be  easily  destroyed.  Their  greatest  activity  is  found 
in  the  agricultural  districts,  as  they  have  turned  the  former  wild  prairies 
into  veritable  gardens.  This  manner  of  showing  their  influence  is 
lasting,  but  their  influence  is  established  in  other  directions.  In 
several  states,  monuments  have  been  raised  in  honor  of  their  noted  men. 
In  Fargo,  North  Dakota,  we  have  a  statue  of  Henrik  Vergeland;  in 
Moorehead,  Minneosta,  a  "Bauta"  stone  was  raised  last  summer  to  the 
sacred  memory  of  Hans  Nielsen  Hauge.  On  the  grounds  of  the 
Agricultural  College,  a  department  of  the  University  at  North  Dakota, 
is  found  another  "Bauta"  stone  to  Bjornstjerne  Bjornsen.  This  "Bauta" 
on  the  University  campus  proclaims  the  fervor  of  Norse  patriotism  to 
the  thousand  students  who  annually  gather  at  this  place.  Last  summer 
there  was  placed  in  the  park  of  the  Great  Northern  Railroad  at  Fargo, 
a  statue  of  Rollo,  the  Viking,  the  founder  of  Normandy,  of  Norman 


86  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

prowess  and  chivalry;  "Rollo,  the  legislator  of  his  nation;  the  father 
of  his  people  and  the  proud  progenitor  of  warriors  and  statesmen." 
And  last  to  be  mentioned  we  have  the  staute  of  Ole  Bull,  the  violinist, 
standing  in  Central  Park,  Minneapolis,  Minnesota.  Several  more 
might  be  mentioned;  the  above  serves  to  show  that  the  ideals  of  tht«r 
great  men  are  not  left  behind,  but  brought  to  this  country;  hence  the 
building  of  statues  and  monuments  to  preach  the  same  cause  in  a 
strange  land.  How  powerful  the  message  of  these  silent  figures  may 
be,  cannot  be  stated,  but  surely  they  make  an  impress  upon  the  youth 
of  America. 

Another  fact  which  shows  a  racial  trait,  is  the  present  endeavor  of 
the  Norwegians  in  America  to  raise  a  "Million  Dollar  Fund"  to  present 
to  Norway  next  year.  The  occasion  being  the  centennial  year  of  the 
independence  of  Norway,  having  obtained  this  on  May  17,  1814.  In 
North  Dakota,  where  the  Scandinavians  are  well  represented,  and 
where  they  have  a  large  constituency  in  the  state  legislature,  it  was 
passed  at  the  recent  session  of  the  Legislature  to  appropriate  $10,000 
for  a  state  building  at  the  centennial  in  Christiania  next  year.  That 
such  an  act  is  possible,  without  society  being  well  saturated  with  the 
Scandinavian  spirit,  is  hardly  conceivable.  It  may  also  be  added  that 
the  recommendation  to  the  Legislature,  urging  this  appropriation  was 
made  by  the  Governor  of  the  State,  L.  B.  Hanna,  a  relative  of  the  late 
Mark  Hanna.  If  the  Governor  had  not  been  subject  to  the  influence 
of  the  Norwegians,  he  would  not  have  made  this  recommendation. 
Minnesota  is  at  present  discussing  following  the  example  of  North 
Dakota. 

In  the  above  mentioned  states,  the  Scandinavians  control  a  large 
number  of  votes,  as  their  love  of  land  ownership  hastens  naturalization. 
Professor  Babcock,  of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  says :  "To  take  up 
homestead  claims,  one  of  the  first  conditions  for  a  foreigner  is  a 
declaration  of  intention  to  become  a  citizen.  So  the  prospective  farmer 
vt  once  takes  out  his  first  papers  and  the  first  step  in  naturalization  is 
made.  This  done,  natural  inclination  leads  him  to  perfect  his  title  to 
full  citizenship." 

Professor  Babcock  further  states,  that:  "They  come  not  to  destroy 
our  institutions,  but  to  build  them  up  by  adopting  them.  They  come 
from  countries  not  potent  or  glorious  in  European  affairs,  and  there- 


IN  AMERICA  87 

fore  the  more  readily  denationalize  themselves,  that  they  may  become 
entirely  American.  The  most  of  them  are  plain,  common  people,  strong, 
sturdy,  and  independent,  required  to  unlearn  little,  ready  and  able  to 
learn  much  and  learn  it  well.  They  have  the  same  still  powers  of 
adaptability  and  assimilation  that  made  Rollo  and  his  Northmen  such 
good  Frenchmen,  and  Guthrun  and  his  Danes  such  excellent  English 
men;  and  using  these  powers  among  us  to-day,  they  are,  or  are  rapidly 
becoming,  irreproachably  and  unimpeachably  American."  It  is  evident 
and  gratifying  to  the  Scandinavians  that  they  are  beginning  to  con 
tribute  more  to  American  culture.  They  have  not  often  forgotten  the 
fact  that  they  have  a  great  history  and  have  made,  and  are  making, 
splendid  contributions  to  the  art,  literature  and  science  of  government 
of  continental  Europe  and  thus  indirectly  of  America.  Such  names  as 
Ibsen,  Bjornsen,  Rydberg,  Strindberg,  Gryndtberg  and  Brandes,  as  they 
have  appeared  in  American  magazines,  have  suggested  that  the  Scan 
dinavian  people  were  capable  of  raising  up  men  of  gigantic  intellectual 
proportions;  such  men  have  not  been  raised  by  their  descendants  who 
have  emigrated  to  American  shores,  nor  have  they  been  found  in 
person  as  a  social  force  in  the  large  Scandinavian  settlements  of  the 
Northwest. 

The  people  of  Northern  Europe,  generally  considered  the  purest 
stock  of  the  Teutonic  race,  have  great  similarities.  For  this  reason, 
even  though  we  may  speak  of  special  characteristics  of  the  different 
Teutonic  races,  whkji  are  truly  found  in  a  broad  sense,  the  character 
istics  of  the  same  nations  composing  the  Teutonic  race  are  very 
similar,  so  that  at  the  present  stage  of  amalgamation  in  American 
society,  we  might  easily  speak  of  Teutonic  characteristics  and  Teutonic 
influence,  including  in  this  class,  the  Germans,  Scandinavians,  English 
and  Scotch.  Professor  Julius  Olsen  of  the  State  University  of  Wis 
consin,  in  an  address  delivered  on  the  occasion  of  the  unveiling  of  a 
statue  of  Rollo  of  Normandy,  at  Fargo,  North  Dakota,  July  12th,  1912, 
in  this  connection  said :  "In  the  first  place,  then,  Northern  Europe  is 
the  home  of  the  Teuton.  As  a  physical  product  he  has  sprung  from 
the  soil,  so  to  speak.  Northern  and  Central  Europe  was  his  by  right 
of  primitive  possession.  It  was  his  playground  and  battlefield  that  he 
had  a  right  to  control."  Until  the  last  decade,  the  portion  of  Europe 
mentioned  by  Professor  Olsen  furnished  by  far  the  greatest  number  of 


88  SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

our  immigrants.  The  people  of  Southern  Europe  in  whatever  relation 
they  may  formerly  have  been  to  the  Teutonic  race,  they  have  lived 
apart  from  them  long  enough  to  form  a  distinct  race  type.  Of  recent 
years  this  racial  type  enters  our  land  in  large  numbers,  and  conse 
quently  will  play  its  part  as  a  social  factor,  but  as  the  Scandinavians 
belong  to  the  former  type  mentioned,  the  Teutonic,  their  characteristics 
alone  will  be  considered  in  our  discussion.  In  the  same  address 
Professor  Olsen  beautifully  describes  the  achievements  of  the  Teutons: 
"Their  vital  energy  and  power  of  physical  expansion,  has  been  startlingly 
tremendous  for  century  after  century,  tribe  after  tribe,  swarm  over  all 
Europe,  lending  to  every  nation  with  which  they  came  into  contact, 
Northern  blood  and  Northern  spirit.  They  have  colonized  America, 
Australia,  South  Africa  and  many  Islands  of  the  Seas,  and  ruled  vast 
territories  in  Asia.  They  have  been  driven  forward  by  an  irresistible 
impulse  that  brooks  no  opposition,  counts  no  obstacle.  The  two  poles 
mark  the  compass  of  their  conquest.  Peary  and  Amundsen,  one  an 
American,  the  other  a  Norseman,  are  the  advance  guards  to-day  with 
no  more  poles  to  conquer." 

What,  then,  is  the  Teutonic  spirit?  It  is  a  physical  and  intellectual 
and  moral  quality ;  the  physical  and  intellectual  was  well  expressed  in 
the  above  quotation.  Aristotle  says:  "Some  men  are  by  nature  free 
and  others,  slaves."  By  this  he  means  that  some  men  have  the 
capacity  for  freedom,  and  this  may  be  considered  one  of  the  character 
istics  of  the  Teutonic  tribes,  the  capacity  for  freedom.  Freedom  in  this 
sense  supposes  physical,  intellectual  and  spiritual  power.  It  means  free 
action,  with  the  sense  of  responsibility  to  governing  power.  From 
society's  point  of  view,  this  governing  power  is  the  State.  It  may  be 
noted  in  this  connection  that  the  states  founded  by  the  Teutons,  and 
for  the  very  reason  of  this  characteristic,  have  proved  to  be  the  most 
enduring  and  powerful  in  the  world:  France,  Germany,  England. 

Another  trait  of  these  people  is  the  Teutonic  quality  of  loyalty. 
This  loyalty  rests  on  the  foundation  of  "free  self-determination."  The 
last  sentiment  is  aptly  expressed  by  Shakespeare  in  Hamlet,  the  great 
Teutonic  tragedy,  he  said: 

"To  thine  own  self  be  true, 

And  it  must  follows  as  the  night,  the  day, 

Thou  canst  not  then  be  false  to  any  man." 


IN  AMERICA 


Goethe,  "It  was  the  Teutonic  races  who  first  introduced  into  the 
world  the  idea  of  personal  independence."  It  has  been  the  continued 
combat  of  the  Teutons  to  exemplify  to  the  world  this  independence. 
As  Ripley  locates  the  purest  Teutons  of  to-day  in  Norway,  we  can 
clearly  see  why  this  spirit  is  so  predominant  within  the  bosom  of 
nearly  every  Norwegian  and  his  kindred  nations,  the  Swedes  and  the 
Danes.  To  further  continue  and  elaborate  upon  the  traits  of  the  Teu 
tons  and  the  Scandinavians,  is  unnecessary.  Americanism,  politically, 
socially  and  morally  and  largely  religiously,  shows  the  stamp  of  the 
Teutonic  spirit.  The  religious  side  has  not  in  this  thesis  been  much 
discussed  in  this  broad  sense.  Woodruff  claims  in  his  book,  "The 
Effects  of  Tropical  Light  on  White  Man/'  that  it  is  a  distinct  char 
acteristic  of  the  blondes  to  adhere  to  the  Protestant  Church  and  for 
the  brunettes  to  adhere  to  the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  The  blondes, 
in  his  opinion,  are  born  leaders  and  rulers,  whereas  the  brunettes  wish 
to  be  led.  If  this  be  true,  as  we  have  reason  to  believe,  the  future 
condition  of  the  religious  side  of  America  as  influenced  by  immigrants, 
will  largely  depend  upon  whether  these  are  blondes  or  brunettes. 

This  mark  of  distinction,  blondes  or  brunettes,  has  its  significance 
in  a  different  line.  Professor  Starr,  of  the  University  of  Chicago,  advo 
cates  the  theory  of  the  climatic  unfitness  of  the  United  States,  and  he 
argues  that  we  are  drifting,  by  natural  selection,  to  the  Indian  type;  i.  e., 
the  brunette.  This  result  being  the  logical  consequence  of  nature 
eliminating  the  unfit  and  selecting  the  fittest.  As  Scandinavians  are  the 
truest  representative  of  the  blondes,  we  may  expect  to  notice  this  effect 
of  climatic  conditions  in  America  upon  them  sooner  and  in  a  larger  ' 
degree  than  upon  others  belonging  to  the  Teutonic  tribe.  According 
to  Woodruff,  'The  Effects  of  Tropical  Light  on  W7hite  Man,"  p.  283, 
this  is  the  case.  He  ascribes  the  racial  decay  of  the  Norwegians  after 
some  years'  residence  in  the  Northwest,  as  being  due  to  the  excessive 
light  of  these  countries  against  which  they  have  no  defence.  In  the 
second  generation  there  is  loss  of  buoyancy  and  elasticity  of  gait;  the 
hair  becomes  dry,  digestive  disturbances  and  constipation  become 
common.  Tuberculosis,  rheumatism  and  various  other  disturbances  are 
manifest.  The  cause  he  ascribes  to  the  change  of  environment.  As  to 
the  prevalence  of  tuberculosis  among  American  Scandinavians,  the 
question  may  be  raised,  that  it  is  very  common  is  true,  but  it  must 


SCANDINAVIANS   AS   A   SOCIAL   FORCE 

also  be  remembered  that  in  the  Scandinavian  countries  it  is  claimed 
that  one  out  of  every  four  suffers  from  tuberculosis.  In  spite  of  this, 
we  have  the  fact  to  face  that  the  Scandinavians  have  the  greatest 
average  length  of  life  of  any  nation.  According  to  Dr.  Binder,  the  aver 
age  is  Siy2  years.  What  has  been  described  as  applying  to  Nor 
wegians  and  Scandinavians  in  particular,  may  also  be  applied  to  other 
Europeans  who  have  lived  in  similar  environments,  and  Dr.  Woodruff: 
" Whether  adjustment  is  possible  in  such  a  great  change  of  environ 
ments  is  problematical."  This  discussion  might  be  continued  at  great 
length,  but  the  further  we  go,  the  more  vague  becomes  the  future  condi 
tion  of  our  country,  hence  we  shall  leave  to  history  the  pleasure  of 
recording  the  facts  of  actual  conditions.  That  there  are  many  social 
forces  at  work  in  our  United  States  is  evident:  that  their  efforts  will 
ultimately  result  in  a  still  greater  nation  than  we  have  at  present,  is 
even  more  to  be  desired. 


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